The government’s latest measures to protect children online have raised questions over whether they’ll be effective without restrictions on virtual private networks (VPNs).
From next spring, 16 and 17-year-olds will be urged to follow a social media curfew, with certain apps blocked by default between midnight and 06:00.
The measure is part of Labour’s plans to ‘protect the next generation’ from online harms, including poor sleep linked to late-night scrolling. It comes as the government announced a social media ban last month for under-16s.
However, the government has decided not to restrict VPN use in its latest plans – they allow users to disguise their location online, meaning children could bypass social media age checks by appearing to be in a country where limitations do not apply.
Research commissioned by the government found only 7-10% of children reported using a VPN specifically to avoid age checks, while ministers have also raised concerns that restrictions could affect free speech.
Despite this, separate research – reported by our sister title InfotecNews – found more than half of children have attempted to get around online age checks, with almost two in five succeeding.
Internet safety campaign group The Molly Rose Foundation, said the curfew was part of ‘yet another piecemeal set of announcements, not the comprehensive plan for children’s safety that’s required.’
In similar vein, Beeban Kidron, founder of the 5Rights Foundation, criticised the decision to make restrictions optional. She said having a default that can be switched off was ‘for show and headlines, not for children’.
‘This is not the change that parents asked for, nor experts wanted – it has been cooked up in DSIT [the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology] for another news round.’
Speaking to the BBC, campaigner Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son tragically passed away in an online challenge gone wrong, said the government’s plan could be doing more.
‘I just think it’s not good enough really just to have a product you can switch off, it’s a bit like offering a 17-year-old a bottle of alcohol and then moving it slightly out of arms reach, they can just drag it back in, I really wish they could go stronger and harder on these things,’ she said.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said a public consultation has shown that even as young people gain more independence at 16, parents still want to protect them from ‘the most addictive online features that can have a harmful impact on their wellbeing.’
Kendall added: ‘These measures will be crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends, all of which are fundamental to building a happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life.’
Currently, the government still haven’t listed which apps will be included in the curfew, but previous research – commissioned by the DSIT in May – tested restrictions on platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Reddit.
Data found that overnight curfews were the most manageable restrictions to enforce and had the strongest impact on sleep. Young people involved in the study said they went to bed earlier, felt more rested, concentrated better in lessons and revision, and experienced less stress.
In contrast, children also said they felt isolated from friendships and experienced mood swings, with some parents likening the adjustment to withdrawal.
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, said: ‘We have to listen to young people. They don’t want a ban, but they do want to be protected from addictive, infinite scrolling.
‘I want to know more about how the policies, such as a curfew, will be delivered and will be watching closely to make sure they are effective – alongside pushing Ofcom to make full use of its powers to make the online world safer for children.’
Image: Ludovic Toinel/UnSplash
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