this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2026
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UK: Under-16s to be banned from social media, Starmer announces (www.bbc.co.uk)
submitted 5 days ago by Tarambor@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
310 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Under-16s will be banned from using social media, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced.

Starmer says social media is making children unhappy, making it easier for bullies to abuse children, and is "designed to be addictive". A ban would give children more time, security, and more freedom to grow up - as well as more opportunities, he adds.

"That is all any parent wants. They want to know that Britain will be better for their children, that they will get a fair chance," the PM says in a speech in Downing Street.

Starmer adds that the government is "not prepared to compromise" on the safety and happiness of children - and that includes in the regulation and enforcement of this ban. He says the government has listened to and learned from countries like Australia, where a similar ban has already been introduced.

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[โ€“] bumbling_bee@lemmy.ml 32 points 4 days ago (9 children)

They learned from countries like Australia huh? Australian here, did they learn how much its not working ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ™„! None of my kids have anything other than YouTube, but my 9yo knew how to get around it. He doesn't because he just watches in a browser with ad blockers and we monitor it. My high schooler reports the many and varied ways kids just changed where they go online to continue their crap. Do I think under 16s should be on social media, no. But identity verification is not going to fix that.

[โ€“] Tryenjer@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

This was never about protecting the children. That's just an excuse to further promote mass surveillance and to exempt companies from responsibility for the additive design of their products and services. It's easier and more rewarding to penalize the users.

[โ€“] bumbling_bee@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 days ago

Yep. I've since deleted it, but I had to verify my identity on my FB account, which i'd had since 2008. Math is a thing ๐Ÿ™„.

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