The science secretary has said he will “keep everything on the table” on restricting social media for under-16s if tech companies fail to act.

Peter Kyle told Sky News he wants regulator Ofcom to be “more assertive” when it comes to “grotesque” behavior on social media, including where young people have lost their lives.

But campaigners are already calling for tougher measures, including banning smartphones in all schools; The government did not support this, saying that this decision should be left to school principals.

There are also calls to ban social media for those under the age of 16. Australian government says it will legislate to introduce and introduce a project that is carefully watched all over the world.

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Mr Kyle said he wanted to push social media companies to “ensure safety from the start” and would consider further action after launching new research into the effects of smartphones and social media on children.

“I would urge the regulator to be more assertive about protecting children online,” he said.

“I don’t want to go for things like all-out bans because I want people to benefit from all the opportunities that modern technology offers. But where there are harms, I’ll keep everything on the table when it comes to keeping people safe.”

last year, Online Security Act A landmark law aimed at protecting children and vulnerable people from illegal and harmful content, including violence, sexually explicit material and disinformation, has been passed in the UK.

Ofcom will begin enforcing its powers against tech companies from the spring of next year, including fines and prison terms for tech bosses who fail to protect children.

But experts and parent groups are already calling on the government to go further.

‘It is difficult for children to control their phone use’

Founder of Healthcare Professionals for Safer Screens, Dr. Rebecca Foljambe told Sky News: “I’m really disappointed. We certainly have plenty of evidence to send Peter Kyle away if that’s what he wants to see.”

“There is now very good evidence that one in four children use their smartphones to systems in a way consistent with addiction. They find it difficult to control their use. This prevents them from doing things they would normally enjoy.”

“They are three times more likely to suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result of problematic smartphone use.

“There’s also evidence linking device overuse to things like eating disorder symptoms and children’s increased use of plastic surgery.”

‘Stronger online security laws are needed’

The Molly Rose Foundation was established in memory of young people Molly Russell, who took her own life He welcomed Mr Kyle’s initiative to “prevent regulations from falling too far behind expectations” but said new, stronger online safety laws were needed.

A group called Smartphone-Free Childhood, founded by parents who want to restrict children’s smartphone use, currently has 150,000 members.

Mr Kyle considering whether to give government support to private members’ bill drafted by Labor MP Josh MacAlister This will impose tougher restrictions on social media for children.

Mr MacAlister, a former teacher, wants to raise the age of “internet adulthood” at which social media companies can collect data from users from 13 to 16 to prevent algorithms targeting young people with harmful or addictive content.

He says companies need to produce “different products” for under-16s and is concerned by figures showing the average 12-year-old spends 21 hours a week surfing the internet.

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Mr Kyle said it would take six months for the scientific evidence to be updated. He said: “I need to look at the evidence and see what will have the right impact and deliver the right behavioral change we want.

“I think there is something addictive about it, but I don’t yet understand it with enough precision to know what policy measures could be taken to deal with it.

“It was a source of great disappointment to me when I looked at the evidence and there were huge gaps.

“And most frustratingly, the companies that produce these products are not investing in research themselves.”