Ministers to consider law forcing social media to protect under-16s

Social media companies could be forced to exclude young teenagers from algorithms to make content less addictive for under-16s, under a new bill with heavyweight backing from Labour, Conservatives and child protection experts.

- Jessica Elgot

The safer phones bill, a private member's bill from a Labour MP that has high priority in parliament, will be discussed by ministers this week. It would also commit the government to a review of the sale of phones to teenagers, including a review of whether additional technological safeguards should be on phones sold to under-16s.

Josh MacAlister, the Labour MP behind the bill, will meet Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, this week to discuss potential government backing for measures in the bill.

Ministers are believed to be open-minded about some of the provisions in the bill and whether any can be applied as the Online Safety Act comes into force - though there is a strong view in government that there should be no ban on the sale of phones to teenagers.

The bill is backed by the former Conservative education secretary Kit Malthouse and the new chair of the education select committee, Helen Hayes.