Labour face facing calls for social media ban as teens ‘dependent’ on bots | Politics | News
Young people looking for companionship are turning to AI “chatbots” and are in danger of becoming “emotionally dependent” on the technology, the government warns. There are strong concerns that they will “reveal intimate thoughts” and believe that the AI system cares about them and is capable of true empathy.
A major consultation will explore the risks of artificial intelligence to children as technology develops new ways to mimic real human relationships. Options to consider to protect young people include a “mandatory night curfew” to help them sleep better. Many children in the UK are already using AI in daily life. Parents, young people, teachers and the tech industry will be invited to contribute to the consultation.
Technology Minister Liz Kendall said: “Children’s online lives are not just affected by what they see on social media, they spend time in a wide range of online spaces, each of which carries their own risks. That’s why we’re launching the most ambitious consultation of its kind and examining a range of measures that will make every part of children’s online lives safer.”
“We are determined to give young people the childhood they deserve and prepare them for the future in an age of rapid technological change.”
An important coal is the recovery of “the freedom and prosperity that should define childhood.” The government wants to go beyond Online Safety Act requirements to protect children from harmful content.
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The Conservatives want the Government to go further and ban under-16s from using social media.
Shadow Science Secretary Julia Lopez said: “This consultation is a means to get the Prime Minister out of another sticky situation: a developing rebellion by Labor MPs who want to back the Conservative Party’s plan this week to stop children accessing harmful social media. “It’s a plan that involves cross-party support and support for parents, children and schools across the country.
“Keir Starmer’s instinct is always to rubbish an issue, rather than grasping the issue and showing firm and determined leadership. The Conservatives remain clear on our position – children need to be protected. We would ban social media for under-16s and take phones out of schools.”
