Social media websites and apps should block under-18s from sexting, the UK’s health secretary has said.
Jeremy Hunt said social media companies should stop minors from being able to send sexually explicit images as part of an online crackdown.
He also called for more to be done to stop cyber bullying by using software that can detect when it is happening.
The health secretary was giving evidence to the Commons Health Committee when he said social media companies should “step up to the plate”.
"There is a lot of evidence that the technology industry, if they put their mind to it can do really smart things,” he said.
"For example, I just ask myself the simple question as to why it is that you can't prevent the texting of sexually explicit images by people under the age of 18, if that's a lock that parents choose to put on a mobile phone contract.
"Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures and prevent it being transmitted.”
