The Cabinet minister overseeing Science, Innovation and Technology has signalled she remains undecided about imposing restrictions on social media access for teenagers below 16 years of age.

Liz Kendall stepped into the role previously held by Peter Kyle, who represents Hove and Portslade, following this year’s cabinet changes. She spent Monday at Shoreham Port ahead of local elections taking place on May 7.

During her time there, Ms Kendall was allowed to captain an electric vessel throughout the harbour, describing the activity as thoroughly enjoyable.

She expressed enthusiasm about Brighton potentially emerging as a key area for artificial intelligence development alongside Shoreham Port’s maritime activities, highlighting the harbour’s significance as a vital economic hub.

Ministers are under growing pressure to introduce a ban similar to Australia’s model preventing those under 16 from using social media platforms, with heightened worries about impacts on young people’s mental health and development.

A recently launched government consultation is inviting feedback from the public about implementing such restrictions.

When asked about her own position, Ms Kendall told The Argus she had not yet reached a conclusion.

She explained the administration was asking substantially more questions and taking a broader approach than the Australian government had done, looking at restrictions on recommendation algorithms that encourage prolonged scrolling, nighttime usage limits, controls on conversational artificial intelligence tools, and worries about contact with unknown individuals through gaming services.

She said the focus remained on guaranteeing young people have positive online experiences, stay protected and develop skills for the future.

She noted strong public feeling on the matter: many parents and teachers clearly favour a ban. However, charities including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation warn that prohibition might push problems out of sight, with young people finding ways around the rules.

She stated her desire to be frank with readers of The Argus, pointing out that the debate centred not on whether to take action but on determining the most effective approach given that current protections are inadequate.

She highlighted the everyday difficulties facing parents: navigating decisions about when to provide children with phones, what constitutes reasonable device usage, what content youngsters are viewing, and how to supervise this. Managing parental controls can be draining.

The minister explained the review covers not only under-16 restrictions but also considers protections for 17-year-olds.

The consultation runs until the end of this month, with her department expected to publish recommendations before autumn begins, aiming to have measures in place by December.

Last week the minister announced a £500 million programme to back British artificial intelligence firms while telling the BBC she personally uses the technology more during her personal time than at work.

In her conversation with The Argus, Ms Kendall confirmed artificial intelligence is widely adopted within her department though her own use is greater outside the office.

Responding to worries that artificial intelligence might erode human skills and lead to job losses, she stressed her dedication to guaranteeing the technology creates work opportunities.

She said Labour was founded to tackle unemployment. The party values work not just for the money it provides but for the respect, self-worth and independence it brings.

She stated her goal focuses on building young people’s abilities, which is why complimentary artificial intelligence instruction will be offered to everyone.

The administration intends to improve the capabilities of 10 million employees by 2030, leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to stimulate economic expansion and employment in areas that suffered during industrial decline.

She pointed to artificial intelligence’s value in assisting medical staff and jobcentre services.

She observed the core issue was not whether technology brings change, since technological progress has existed since the first steam engines appeared. Instead the question was whether government leaves people to cope with changes alone, as Conservative governments did in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, or whether it commits to ensuring transformation serves the public by equipping them with required skills and directing future job prospects toward those who need them most, which is what this administration aims to do.