Tech minister Kyle vows action on children's ‘compulsive' use of social media
Peter Kyle said he wanted to tackle 'compulsive behaviour' and ministers are reportedly considering a two-hour limit, with curfews also under discussion.
The Cabinet minister said he would be making an announcement about his plans for under-16s 'in the near future'.
He told Sky News: 'I am looking very carefully about the overall time kids spend on these apps.
'I think some parents feel a bit disempowered about how to actually make their kids healthier online.
'I think some kids feel that sometimes there is so much compulsive behaviour with interaction with the apps they need some help just to take control of their online lives and those are things I'm looking at really carefully.'
Sky reported that a two-hour cap per platform is being considered, while night-time or school-time curfews have also been discussed.
Mr Kyle said: 'We talk a lot about a healthy childhood offline. We need to do the same online.
'I think sleep is very important, to be able to focus on studying is very important.'
He said he wanted to 'tip the balance' in favour of parents so they were 'not always being the ones who are just ripping phones out of the kids' hands'.
Mr Kyle also said it was 'total madness' that some adults were able to use apps or gaming platforms to contact children online.
He said 'many of the apps or the companies have taken action to restrict contacts that adults, particularly strangers, have with children, but we need to go further'.
'At the moment, I think the balance is tipped slightly in the wrong direction.
'Parents don't feel they have the skills, the tools or the ability to really have a grip on the childhood experience online, how much time, what they're seeing, they don't feel that kids are protected from unhealthy activity or content when they are online.'
🔒 Children in the UK will lead safer online lives as we've finalised safety measures for sites and apps to introduce from July.
Tech firms must act to prevent children from seeing harmful content, and meet their duties under the Online Safety Act.
➡️ Swipe to read more.
— Ofcom (@Ofcom) April 24, 2025
A series of already-announced measures to protect children will come into effect from Friday.
The codes of practice set out by Ofcom include requiring firms to ensure that any algorithms used to recommend content on their platforms must be configured to filter out harmful content from children's feeds.
In addition, the riskiest platforms, such as those hosting pornography, must have effective age checks to identify which users are children.
The checks could be done using facial age estimation technology, asking users to provide photo-ID for verification or a credit card check.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
36 minutes ago
- CNN
Hear what European leaders say about recognizing a Palestinian state
Hear what European leaders say about recognizing a Palestinian state European leaders are not all on the same page with a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were among the leaders who say they plan to recognize a Palestinian state come September while Friedrich Merz said Germany won't "currently" recognize it. 01:22 - Source: CNN Mothers risk their lives to get food in Gaza Palestinian women face an awful choice between risking their own lives, which could deprive their families of their only remaining provider, or watching their children starve. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports. 01:33 - Source: CNN Medics perform surgery during earthquake Video shows medics in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, continuing a surgery on a patient despite a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia's far eastern coast on July 30. 00:47 - Source: CNN Tsunami warnings triggered after major earthquake The strongest earthquake on the planet since 2011 has triggered tsunami warnings for parts of Russia, Japan, and Alaska, as well as all of Hawaii. CNN's Will Ripley reports on the 8.8-magnitude quake. 00:41 - Source: CNN Israeli settler kills activist who worked on Oscar-winning film Odeh Hathalin, a prominent Palestinian activist who had worked on an Oscar-winning documentary, was killed on Monday during an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to local journalists and officials. CNN's Jeremy Diamond explains video circulated on social media that shows the gunman firing a hand gun in the vicinity of where Hathalin was said to be killed. 01:36 - Source: CNN Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win Fans celebrate in London as England has been crowned champion of Europe for the second successive time after defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Women's Euro 2025 final. 00:30 - Source: CNN Breaking down Israel's aid drops into Gaza In the midst of a hunger crisis in Gaza, Israel and other countries have begun dropping aid by plane into the area. CNN's Nic Robertson breaks down how much effect this measure can offer, while the UN calls for substantial relief to come from aid trucks moving in quickly through open corridors. 01:15 - Source: CNN People fight for scraps of food in Gaza CNN's Nic Robertson reports on the scarce food conditions in Gaza, with children and mothers fighting off starvation as soup kitchens face shortages. 01:46 - Source: CNN 18 people dead after Peru bus accident At least 18 people have died and 24 were injured after a bus overturned in the Province of Junín, in Central Peru. The cause of the accident is still being investigated. 00:28 - Source: CNN Rare snow leopard baby born at UK zoo Video released by Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom shows a rare snow leopard cub taking its first steps. The baby was the first of its kind born at the facility in its 94-year history. Snow leopards are currently listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. 01:14 - Source: CNN Trump tells Israel to 'finish the job' against Hamas 00:41 - Source: CNN Desperate fishermen risk their lives to get food in Gaza Israel reissued a warning prohibiting anyone from entering Gaza's sea, but hunger drives desperate people to fish. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 02:08 - Source: CNN 'The level of destruction is enormous': Says Cardinal about Gaza Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, recently toured Gaza after what Israel says was stray ammunition that struck Gaza's only Catholic church, killing three people. He recounts what he witnessed with CNN's Erin Burnett. 01:17 - Source: CNN Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting? Tensions are rising between Thailand and Cambodia over a border dispute that dates back to 1907. CNN's Will Ripley explains how the conflict has escalated. 01:32 - Source: CNN CNN reports from Gaza aid crossing CNN's Nic Robertson is on the scene at the Kerem Shalom border crossing as aid agencies warn of rampant hunger caused by Israel's blockade of Gaza. Gaza's health ministry said on Tuesday that 900,000 children are going hungry, and 70,000 already show signs of malnutrition. Israel denies it is at fault and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:39 - Source: CNN Reopening the ancient tunnels 75 feet under Rome CNN's Ben Wedeman was given an exclusive tour of ancient tunnels underneath Rome's Capitoline Hill. The tunnels, which archeologists say were once filled with ancient Roman shops and taverns, are set to open to the public in late 2026 or early 2027. 02:02 - Source: CNN Ukraine sees first major anti-government protests since start of war Hundreds took to the streets after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a new law limiting the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies in his government. 01:03 - Source: CNN Peruvian police use superhero disguise during drug raid An agent in the Peruvian police force disguised themselves as the Mexican superhero character El Chapulín Colorado during a drug raid in the nation's capital of Lima. Police said six members of a criminal gang were captured and that cocaine paste, marijuana, cell phones, and money were seized. 00:38 - Source: CNN Distressing images show starvation in Gaza Distressing video footage shows a 41-year-old man in Gaza who died of starvation as humanitarian organizations urge for Israel to end its blockade of the enclave. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 01:57 - Source: CNN Small Irish town confronts its dark past Excavations of the remains of nearly 800 babies have begun at a former so-called mother and baby home in Tuam, Ireland. At least 9,000 infants and children died in more than a dozen of these institutions over the course of eight decades. 02:11 - Source: CNN Fire tornado rips through Turkish forest Turkey's forestry ministry has released video of a fire tornado tearing through the country's woodland. Hundreds of wildfires have gripped Turkey this summer, as well as Greece and other Mediterranean countries. 00:33 - Source: CNN Concerns grow over Australia's toxic algae bloom A harmful algae bloom off the coast of South Australia, caused by high sea temperatures and runoff from flooding, is poisoning marine life and depleting oxygen in the water. The Australian government has stated that there is little that can be done to reverse the rapid rate of the climate crisis. 01:10 - Source: CNN International visitors to US will pay new fee CNN's Richard Quest explains how the Trump administration enacted a bill that will require international visitors to pay a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 dollars. The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the US. 01:36 - Source: CNN Mexico City residents furious over gentrification Mexico City saw its second anti-gentrification protest in less than a month on Sunday with demonstrators furious over rising prices in the city and the record number of foreigners applying for a resident visa. The main nationality of those foreigners seeking to move legally to the nation's capital? The United States of America. 01:11 - Source: CNN Child flees Israeli strike on Gaza refugee camp Video shows a child running away as Israeli munitions struck near a UNRWA school in Bureij Refugee Camp behind her. 00:36 - Source: CNN China cracks down on fake "Lafufu" Labubus Fake Labubu plush toys, dubbed "Lafufu," have gained popularity due to shortages of the original dolls made by China's Pop Mart. 02:05 - Source: CNN Jair Bolsonaro denies coup charges as police raid home Police in Brazil raided the home of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and enforced a ruling from the country's Supreme Court that Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle tag. Bolsonaro is being accused of plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. 01:17 - Source: CNN Taiwan conducts 10-day military drill The Taiwanese government is preparing for a war they hope will never happen. For the first time this year, Taiwan combined two major civil defense exercises, with the drills lasting ten days. These drills have included urban combat, mass casualty simulations, emergency supply drops and cyber defense that could be enacted if an invasion was to occur. CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Will Ripley, reports. 01:44 - Source: CNN Deadly flooding grips South Korea for days South Korea has been ravaged for days by intense flooding that's left more than a dozen people dead. Reuters reported more than 16 inches of rain fell in one area in just 24 hours, citing the country's Interior and Safety Ministry. 00:48 - Source: CNN Brazil's Lula tells Christiane Amanpour: Trump 'Was not elected to be emperor of the world' Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview it was 'a surprise' to see President Donald Trump's letter posted to Truth Social, threatening Brazil with a crippling tariff of 50% starting August 1st. Lula says that he initially thought the letter was 'fake news.' Watch the full 'Amanpour' interview on CNN. 01:33 - Source: CNN Gaza's only Catholic church hit by Israeli strike Gaza's only Catholic church was struck by an Israeli tank, killing three and injuring many more, church officials said. It became internationally recognized after reports emerged that the late Pope Francis used to call the church daily. CNN's Nada Bashir reports 00:53 - Source: CNN Prince Harry recreates his mother's historic landmine walk Following in his mother's footsteps, Prince Harry visited Angola's minefields just as Princess Diana did 28 years ago. The Duke of Sussex was in Angola with The Halo Trust as part of the group's efforts to clear landmines. 00:39 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Met Police to double use of facial recognition technology amid budget cuts
The Metropolitan Police is set to more than double its use of live facial recognition technology. The move will see up to 10 deployments a week of the technology, and comes as it restructures to cover the loss of 1,400 officers and 300 staff amid budget shortages. Part of the overhaul will also see officers moved to bulk up the force's public order crime team, as the Met said it has faced increased demand linked to protest-related crimes in the past two years. The squad will go from 48 to 63 officers due to a rise in the number of protests, particularly related to Israel and Palestine, as well as environmental issues. Force chief Sir Mark Rowley told the PA news agency: "The numbers of protests have grown over the last couple of years. "We don't have any powers that are there to reduce the number of protests, to cancel them. "Laws are very permissive and encouraging of protests, which is entirely understandable, and I've got no objection to that, but what we've seen, unfortunately, is a proportion of those create crime and offences." As part of the latest details of its restructure, the Met announced that live facial recognition will now be used up to 10 times per week across five days, up from the current four times per week across two days. Earlier this month the Met revealed that it had made 1,000 arrests using live facial recognition to date, of which 773 had led to charge or caution. Charlie Whelton, policy and campaigns officer at Liberty, said: "It's incredibly concerning to see an expansion of facial recognition, especially at a time when there is a complete lack of regulation governing its use. "Any tech which has the potential to infringe on our rights in the way scanning and identifying millions of people does needs to have robust safeguards around its use, including ensuring that proper independent oversight is in place. "The Government must legislate now to regulate this technology, protect people's rights, and make sure that the law on facial recognition does not get outpaced by the use." Sir Mark insisted that the technology is responsibly used. "We're only using it to look for serious offenders like wanted offenders and registered sex offenders. "We routinely put it out there and capture multiple serious offenders in one go, many of whom have committed serious offences against women or children, or people who are wanted for armed robbery. "It's a fantastic piece of technology. It's very responsibly used, and that's why most of the public support it." Officers are also being moved to neighbourhood teams to deal with street crime including phone thefts, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, with 80 moved to the team that covers the West End, a rise of 50%. Last month, retailers warned that flagship high streets such as Oxford Street in the West End were at risk without urgent national action on crime. While shoplifting hit a record high in 2024 with the number of offences surpassing 500,000 for the first time, High Streets UK, a group that represents 5,000 businesses, called for wider action to deal with all types of crime affecting high streets. "The West End generates £50 billion for the UK economy," Sir Mark said. "It's an enormous wealth generator. It's important we police and protect that well. "And we think there's more we can do on our own and working with them." This will include patrolling the streets, "taking on the pickpockets", and officers tackling gangs plotting to rob shops, he said. Another 90 officers are moving to neighbourhood teams that cover six hotspots for robbery and theft - Brixton, Kingston, Ealing, Finsbury Park, Southwark and Spitalfields. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. "Thanks to record funding from City Hall, the West End will see a 50 per cent increase in the number of police officers on the beat and an additional 90 police officers working in new or enhanced town centre teams in hotspot areas. "Despite years of austerity by the previous government, this is the latest example of the Met Police and I prioritising what Londoners want and delivering on our pledge to put high visibility policing at the heart of fighting crime and rebuilding community confidence and trust. "These new and boosted Safer Neighbourhood Teams will focus on tackling antisocial behaviour, phone robbery and shoplifting in key areas. "This fresh targeted action is happening in tandem with enhanced police and partnership work already underway in our high streets and town centres this summer." The Met is Britain's largest police force, which as of February had 33,201 officers, 11,319 staff, 1,460 police community support officers and 1,127 specials. Sir Mark warned in April that the force is facing a £260 million budget shortfall, with cuts removing the Royal Parks police and dedicated schools officers as a result.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How an LGBTQ+ cafe's neon sign became a beacon for hate in Berlin
Germany Pride BERLIN (AP) — A neon sign inside the Das Hoven cafe in a trendy Berlin neighborhood proudly proclaims 'QUEER AND FRIENDS.' The sign was intended to show the cafe is a safe space for LGBTQ+ people. But it has also become a beacon for hate and homophobic attacks. Owner Danjel Zarte said there are 45 pending criminal investigations related to the cafe over the past year and a half, ranging from verbal and physical attacks on patrons and workers to windows being broken or covered in feces and swastika graffiti. One person even stood outside the cafe with a gun. 'An act of terror,' Zarte said. "I sometimes have panic attacks in the morning and am afraid to look at my cell phone because I'm afraid that something has happened again.' Attacks against queer people and gay-friendly establishments are rising across Germany, including in Berlin, a city that has historically embraced the queer community. Last year, there was a 40% increase in violence targeting LGBTQ+ people in 12 of Germany's 16 federal states as compared to 2023, according to the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Antisemitic Violence. Activists say those figures only show a fraction of the probem's scope because victims are often afraid to come forward. They partly blame the rise of the far-right across Europe, including in Germany where the Alternative for Germany party made significant gains in the February election. Hostility toward LGBTQ+ people serves as a 'rallying cry' for believers in right-wing extremism, according to Judith Porath, the association's managing director. Experts have seen an increase in demonstrations and violence among neo-Nazis, most of whom are young men. Bastian Finke, the head of MANEO, an organization tracking anti-gay violence in the capital city, said those who are openly queer on Berlin's roads 'automatically run a very, very high risk simply because of who they are. To be attacked, to be insulted, to be spat on. We have these scenarios every day.' The fear was palpable at Saturday's Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin. The annual Pride event commemorates the 1969 Stonewall rebellion in New York City, when a spontaneous street uprising was triggered by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. 'The mood is actually tense: People are afraid, they are unsettled," Thomas Hoffmann, a member of the event's executive board, said Saturday. Hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the celebration, dancing to techno beats as they marched to the iconic Brandenburg Gate. "That is really a powerful, wonderful sign for more equality,' Hoffmann added. Hoffmann and others have long wanted German lawmakers to amend the constitution to explicitly include the legal protection of queer people from discrimination based on gender identity. But that looks unlikely to become a political priority. For Zarte, the stress of hate crimes and politics is nonstop, except during the Christopher Street Day parade, which always brings him to tears. "It is very moving to feel completely accepted once a year," he said. ___ Pietro De Cristofaro in Berlin contributed to this report.
