Safer phones bill aimed at young teens watered down after minister opposition

New proposal calls for research instead of exclusion of under-16s from algorithms and mobile phone bans in schools

A bill which campaigners hoped would ban addictive smartphone algorithms aimed at young teenagers has been watered down after opposition to tougher measures from the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, and the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson.

The safer phones bill, a private member’s bill from Labour MP Josh MacAlister, will come to the Commons on Friday. It had heavyweight cross-party backing from MPs and a string of child protection charities but will now commit the government to researching the issue further rather than immediate change. Continue reading…
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