Ahead of that vote, a major consultation is about to be launched to find out whether Guernsey residents want the forthcoming UK ban to be extended to the island.
In Britain, under-16s will be barred from a range of major social media platforms from next March, and 16- and 17-year-olds will face restrictions on how they use them. The decision was one of the last made by the outgoing government of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Policy & Resources president Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the tight timetable meant the committee needed an answer within weeks.
‘Plans are under way to engage with the community to understand better, by the end of this year, the range of islanders’ views, and in particular those of young people,’ she said.
‘This will help to establish the local policy position. We will then bring propositions to the Assembly as early as possible in 2027.’
P&R is also looking at the best legal route for a ban, should one be agreed.
‘We are currently exploring whether the UK’s Online Safety Act, or parts of it, might be extended to Guernsey through the existing permissive extent clause,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
Even if islanders and the States decide to opt out, the Bailiwick could still be affected, because the major platforms may not bother to exclude the islands from restrictions they are forced to bring in for the UK.
‘We’re in discussions with the UK Government on the potential impact of its plans on the Bailiwick, given that major online providers may or may not distinguish users here from those in the UK,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
‘It’s important that the States conveys the Bailiwick position – whether we’d want to be included or not, and if so to what extent – as soon as possible to inform the UK Government’s discussions with online providers.’
When the UK plans were first announced, local political reaction was mixed.
Home Affairs president Deputy Marc Leadbeater was very positive about the idea, but Education, Sport & Culture president Deputy Paul Montague was far less enthusiastic.