‘Give Facebook an age rating to protect children’

SOCIAL networks should be given film-style age ratings to protect children from harm, peers have said.

They called for the broadcasting watchdog ofcom to be given powers immediately to enforce age classifications for sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The system would be devised with the tech industry but could feature U, PG, 15 and 18 ratings like those used by the British Board of Film Classification to ensure children do not see unsuitable movies.

The Lords suggested platforms that regularly show material that is inappropriate for an age group would be fined, potentially costing tech firms billions.

The measures are part of a raft of proposals published today by the Lords communications committee, designed to ensure the internet is properly regulated.

The peers also suggest social networks should be forced to remind users when they have been on their sites too long – for example, with pop-ups telling them how much time they have spent there.

The recommendations come as the Government prepares to publish its longawaited White Paper on ‘online harms’.