On one of the hottest English days on record, the debate over internet freedom reached a boil. In an interview with UnHerd's Freddie Sayers, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt — whose book The Anxious Generation has helped drive a global push to restrict smartphones and social media for under-16s — warned that the UK risked creating a 'nightmare' for free speech if it focused on content-based regulation.
'This campaign has been bipartisan almost everywhere, but the Right has, in general, been a little more supportive. Here in the UK, it's different,' Haidt said. He attributed the difference to the UK's existing laws that 'are cracking down on what people say on content', noting that the government has been 'arresting people in mass numbers for tweets'.
“Jonathan Haidt warns UK's content-based social media laws risk a 'nightmare' for free speech, urging design-based solutions.”
'Whenever people think about regulation, their mind jumps to “the government is going to judge speech and decide if this passes, or this does not”. Now that is a nightmare for free speech,' Haidt said. He contrasted the UK's approach with the US, where the First Amendment largely prevents such content-based restrictions.
Haidt argued instead for 'design-based solutions' — addressing platform features that harm children, such as 'notifications, even at night', rather than policing the content of speech. 'What I'm talking about are design-based solutions. When you say: here are the platform features that are causing the threats to children,' Haidt said. He acknowledged that concerns from the Right about overreach were understandable given the UK's record, but insisted that properly designed regulation need not threaten free discourse.
The interview, published Monday, comes as the UK government advances new legislation aimed at protecting minors online. Haidt's warnings sharpen the tension between protecting children and preserving the free internet that many on the Right fear losing.