UK Police Urge Blocking Unsafe Social Media for Under-16s
· news
UK Police Bosses Urge Unsafe Platforms Be Blocked for Under-16s
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) have issued a stark warning about the dangers of social media to children, calling for platforms with high-risk features to be blocked for under-16s.
This isn’t just a matter of restricting access to problematic apps. The issue is more complex than that. Social media companies are not solely responsible; the problem lies in the fundamental design of the online world.
Graeme Biggar, NCA director general, notes that “the industry response has been too slow” and that social media companies have failed to prioritize child safety in the face of growing online threats. This failure is evident in the industry’s reluctance to adopt safety-by-design principles.
Data from 2025 shows a chilling trend: 92,000 reports of potential child sexual abuse activity online, with offending becoming increasingly severe and widespread. Children as young as 10 are being targeted by predators, while some children are even committing offenses themselves. Social media companies cannot simply “make services safer for children” – they must confront the reality of an online environment that has become a lawless frontier.
Proposed solutions, such as blocking platforms with high-risk features and giving Ofcom greater powers to enforce age checks, are necessary but insufficient steps. What’s needed is a fundamental rethink of how we design online spaces, prioritizing safety above profits and convenience. This will require collaboration between government, tech companies, and civil society.
Some argue that private messaging is essential for preserving online privacy. However, this argument is difficult to square with concerns around end-to-end encryption and its potential impact on child abuse investigations. Instagram’s decision to disable direct messaging technology in favor of a more transparent approach is a welcome step – but more needs to be done.
The government’s consideration of social media restrictions comes as no surprise. The Online Safety Act has been in place for some time, yet platforms continue to flout the rules with impunity. This failure of regulation to keep pace with technological advancements is not just about individual companies – it’s a broader issue that requires attention.
Concrete action from government and tech companies alike is needed. Strengthening measures to prevent children from taking, seeing, or sharing nude images online should be a top priority. However, this must be accompanied by a deeper examination of the root causes of online harm. What does it mean for social media companies to prioritize child safety? How can we ensure that these principles are embedded in the design of online platforms?
The clock is ticking; with each passing day, children become increasingly vulnerable to online threats. It’s time for a radical shift in our approach: one that prioritizes safety over convenience and holds tech companies accountable for their role in shaping the online world. The future of childhood depends on it.
Reader Views
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
While blocking high-risk social media platforms is a step in the right direction, we must also acknowledge the unintended consequences of such measures. Overly restrictive age checks could drive vulnerable youth underground, making them more susceptible to exploitation by predators who understand how to circumvent controls. A more effective approach might be to develop platforms that incorporate age-based access restrictions and safety features within their design, rather than simply blocking access altogether. This would require social media companies to fundamentally rethink their business models and prioritize child safety above profits.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The UK's proposal to block high-risk social media platforms for under-16s is a necessary measure, but it's merely treating symptoms rather than addressing the root cause of online safety issues. We need to consider how our children are being educated about safe online behavior and critical thinking in this digital age. Too often, schools rely on outdated curricula that don't adequately prepare students for the nuances of social media, leaving them vulnerable to predators and misinformation. It's time to rethink not just the tech industry's role but also our broader societal approach to ensuring children are equipped with the skills they need to navigate online safely.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The UK police's call for blocking social media platforms with high-risk features is a welcome step, but it's just a band-aid solution to a far more complex problem. We need to confront the reality that online safety has become a luxury good, only available to those who can afford it. Until we rethink the fundamental design of the internet, prioritizing safety and accountability over profit and convenience, children will continue to be exploited on social media platforms. The question is, are we willing to pay the price for a safer online world?