Parents angered by lack of online safety strategy

A parent said she is frustrated Jersey still does not have an online safety law almost a year after a review was launched into the issue.

Jersey declined to adopt the UK's Online Safety Act when it was drafted in 2021 which gave Ofcom powers to fine social media companies.

The government has launched a consultation about how legislation could work in Jersey.

Parent Vicky O'Neil said Jersey was "sitting there waiting idly" as other countries introduced a social media ban for under-16s, adding: "We need to have robust tight regulation for online safety to protect our children".

The Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel criticised the UK Online Safety Act in 2024 and said it was "over complexified" but since then there has not been a vote on what online safety protections in Jersey could look like.

In the meantime the government has launched a consultation on how legislation could be used to remove illegal content and protect privacy.

O'Neil is in favour of following Australia's ban for under 16s being on social media.

She said: "Until big tech can prove that their platforms are safe and that their platforms are okay and not addictive for children to be on, a ban needs to be enforced."

She added: "Children under 18 cannot drink but you are obviously going to get a percentage of those children that do have access to alcohol, but something is better than nothing which is what we currently have."

Douglas Kruger is also a parent in Jersey, and does not think an outright ban would be the best approach.

He said: "We do need to protect our kids at the same time we have to preserve liberty and freedom of speech... with a ban you can do more harm than good."

Kruger added: "We've watched this play out in Australia where kids can now no longer chat with their friends and that's not what we're after; that's not the solution.

"The developing childhood mind is not able to sustain the attacks from screens and from social media so it's a subtle distinction because we need the parental control - we do not need a government ban."

The government also recently announced it was in favour of adopting a similar social media ban for under-16s and ministers would look at what options were available.

Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham said: "Protecting children and young people from online harm is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.

"We know that the digital landscape changes quickly, and our response must be able to change just as fast."

The NSPCC said a ban would be the "wrong solution" and "it would create a false sense of safety that would see children – but also the threats to them – migrate to other areas online".

Guernsey's government is in a different position to Jersey's as it has permissive extent clauses in the UK's Online Safety Act legislation, which means it can extend parts of it into local laws.

The Committee for Home Affairs (CfHA) said it is "currently monitoring the implementation and associated snags in the UK and considering how it may be extended here".

Rachel Masterton from the Office of The Data Protection Authority said: "A knee-jerk reaction to bring something in may cause more problems than it solves... I think we need to make sure that we do it right if we're going to look for a legislative way".

She added: "We're ready to get involved in any consultation process that there is locally with regards to either extending the Online Safety Act to Guernsey or creating our own legislation".

It is also something that has divided opinion between young people in Jersey.

Victoria College students Robbie, 16, and Felix, 15, have been studying online safety in their PHSE lessons.

Robbie said: "I feel like we should have the ban for under-16s... the reels and the short clips I feel like are not good for young minds".

Felix disagreed and said: "I'm personally against the idea of a ban... I just think that that kind of behaviour could just shift to a different medium if we try and limit technology".

The lessons are led by PHSE teacher Gillian Silver who said online safety is societal problem that has to be addressed.

"I think the biggest thing they feed back to us is they would like their parents to be more involved in their online worlds," she said.

"We also have joined up thinking across our schools about what are the issues that young people are asking for support around."

She added: "I think it's really important that we hear what they're saying" and lessons should be "organic, reactive, and proactive to what's going on".

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.