Campaigners express alarm that parents and children participating in the government’s consultation on restricting social media access for under-16s could see their personal information shared with major tech firms like Google and Meta.
Consultation Privacy Policy Raises Eyebrows
The consultation, titled ‘Growing up in the online world: a national consultation,’ targets parents of children aged 21 and under, as well as young people aged 10 to 21. Participants must agree to the privacy policy of Savanta, the survey platform used by the government.
Savanta’s policy indicates that data may be shared with suppliers including Google, LinkedIn, and Meta to enhance services and targeting capabilities. This has sparked backlash from those advocating for stricter regulations on these very companies.
Calls for Immediate Changes
Lord Nash, the Conservative peer who proposed an amendment for an under-16s social media ban, described the policy as ‘deeply concerning.’ He stated, ‘It has long been clear that this consultation is a gift to big tech, providing cover for delay while the companies mobilise opposition to any meaningful action.’
Lord Nash urged the government to guarantee no personal data sharing and encouraged public support for his amendment via raisetheage.org.uk ahead of the upcoming parliamentary debate.
Harry Amies, founder of the online child protection group Unplug.Scot, which identified the issue, demanded the consultation’s suspension. He remarked, ‘The discovery that not only parents’ but children’s personal data may be shared with Meta and Google, without their explicit consent or knowledge, is extremely concerning. The Government needs to urgently change the terms of this consultation to ensure this does not happen.’
Bereaved Parents’ Plea
In a related push, 23 parents who lost children to online harms called for an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s. The group, including Esther Ghey—mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey—declared, ‘Our children should be here. They should be at school, at home, arguing with their siblings, planning their futures.’
Led by Ellen Roome, whose son Jools Sweeney died attempting an online challenge in 2022, the parents warned that tech firms possess vast resources. They added, ‘Every additional delay gives them more opportunity to dilute or weaken reforms behind closed doors. Meanwhile, children remain exposed to products we already know can cause harm.’
Government’s Response to Concerns
A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) spokesperson dismissed the worries as ‘utterly absurd.’ They clarified, ‘The reference in question has nothing whatsoever to do with the views people share in this consultation.’
The spokesperson explained that, like many websites, Savanta must disclose that if users are logged into platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or X during the survey, those services may collect basic technical data like IP addresses. This does not affect personal views or details submitted for online safety policy development.
Upcoming Debate and Broader Context
Parliament will soon debate the social media restrictions following the House of Lords’ support for an amendment in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The government favors flexible measures, such as curfews or time limits, over a outright ban.
The consultation aims to explore actions ‘to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change,’ potentially including limits for under-16s. Implementation could occur as early as summer.
