
Taking to social media, PN MP Adrian Delia said that it’s time for Malta to start regulating kids’ access to social media.
“The damage being done from long hours stuck to a screen from childhood is incalculable,” said the MP. Many agreed, with various commenters urging this issue be taken seriously and calling for solutions to be found.
Malta could follow in the UK’s footsteps. In Britain, the government is considering introducing a social media curfew for children, which would ban the use of apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat after 10pm.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said he is closely monitoring TikTok’s move to limit app access for under-16s and is exploring tools that would allow parents to automatically restrict usage at set times.
Kyle emphasised that any changes would be evidence-based, pointing to rising concerns about the negative effects of excessive screen time on sleep, education, and family life.
Under the newly introduced Online Safety Act, platforms in the UK are now required to follow strict codes of practice, with serious penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential prison sentences.
The debate around youth safety online has intensified after the Internet Watch Foundation reported a surge in child sexual abuse material in 2024, warning about new threats including AI-generated exploitation content.
Do you think Malta should follow in the UK’s footsteps?
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