The Trump administration has urged the UK not to ban social media for under-16s, as the British government weighs up imposing such a policy to crack down on online harms.
The White House hit out at plans for an Australian-style ban, insisting this could damage freedom of speech and argued parents should be responsible for managing their children’s social media use.
But the technology secretary hit back at the warning, saying she would not be “swayed” from doing what she believed was “right for children in this country”.
Submitting a response to a UK government consultation on the issue, the US urged them not to impose a “prescribed one-size-fits-all government restrictions” and “blunt regulatory instruments” to clamp down on social media use.
The US embassy in London published a notice saying that the White House favoured “targeted requirements” on “pornographic and adult commercial content … rather than broad social media bans”.
The Trump administration also expressed concerns about policies that would “impose disproportionate compliance burdens on American companies”.
But tech secretary Liz Kendall said she is “much more bothered about the parents who have replied to the consultation” than the White House’s contribution.
Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, she said: “I’m very happy whoever puts their submission in, but I will take the decision for British families and British children and young people, and I won’t be swayed in any way, shape or form from doing what I believe is right for children in this country.”
Ms Kendall added: “We talk to everybody, but my job is secretary of state for science and technology for the United Kingdom, and that’s what I’m focused on.
“I will read that submission carefully, but I’m much more bothered about the parents who have replied to the consultation, nine out of 10 of whom want to see social media banned for under-16s, and I’m really concerned to make sure we help parents.”
The prime minister is expected to announce a ban on social media for under-16s next week after the consultation saw tens of thousands of parents back the decision.
It comes after Australia put in place a ban in December, a policy the government has been watching closely, with minister Kanishka Narayan visiting the country last month. However, it is expected that the UK’s policy would be more nuanced, with certain features and sites limited to different age groups, rather than the blanket ban seen in Australia.
Over the weekend, Ms Kendall insisted that a UK social media ban for under-16s would need “proper” age verification and stressed that any changes would not be “one and done”.
Asked what lessons were learned by Mr Narayan on his recent visit to Australia, she said: “If we were to do this, you would definitely have to look at how you make sure that there’s proper age verification and compliance.
