Britain’s health secretary says the government will introduce new laws targeting online social media companies if they don’t do more to protect children.
In a strongly-worded letter to Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Twitter and others, Jeremy Hunt said their failure to prevent young children using social media and exposing children to its « harmful emotional side effects » was « unacceptable and irresponsible. »
Hunt said Sunday he was particularly concerned about the lack of age verification measures, with thousands breaching minimum user age rules.
He gave the companies a week to set out steps they are taking to cut underage use, prevent cyberbullying, and promote limited screen time.
Hunt last year attacked Facebook for releasing a version aimed at children, telling the company to « stay away from my kids. »
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