Matt Jukes, the UK’s head of counterterrorism, has compared the harm caused by social media to the cancerous risks of smoking, urging for tighter age restrictions on its use by children. Speaking to The Times (UK) during a Crime and Justice Commission session, Jukes emphasized the dangers social media platforms pose to young people, advocating for a ban on under-16s using these platforms.
Jukes pointed to the surge in young people involved in MI5 and counterterrorism cases, highlighting the role online radicalization played in this increase. He stressed that isolation during the pandemic had accelerated these troubling trends. Citing the example of Australia, which enacted a world-first ban on under-16s using social media in 2023, Jukes said the UK should seriously consider following suit, arguing that the time for taking action was now, rather than delaying as was done with tobacco regulation in the 1950s.
The counterterror chief suggested that social media platforms should be regulated in the same manner as smoking, particularly with regards to protecting young people. “This cancer—the content driving violence—is in our communities and in the lives of young people now,” Jukes warned. He also called for the UK government to accelerate the Online Safety Act and extend its provisions to cover private messaging, which is currently exempt from many regulations. Jukes stressed the need for social media companies to employ their algorithms to remove harmful, hateful content actively.
Jukes’ call for more aggressive online safety policies comes after disturbing reports that young people, including those involved in violent incidents, were exposed to extremist and harmful content through social media. In light of this, the UK’s counterterrorism policing division has reported a significant rise in arrests and concerns related to online content. As part of the effort to protect children and combat radicalization, Jukes urged the government to follow Australia’s lead and take immediate steps to curb the dangers posed by social media to younger users.
