Under-16s to be banned from social media by next spring, Starmer says
www.bbc.co.uk
Watch live as Technology Secretary Liz Kendall delivers a statement to the Commons on the ban.

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.

  • notsosure@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    818·
    3 days ago

    As a parent I think this is a GOOD first step. Reason: it is much easier to get my kids off social media if I can tell them it is prohibited, and I’m convinced it will improve their grades (amongst many other things).

    • Avicenna@programming.devEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Best case scenerio; in school they will just hear of a way to go around the block and use these sites while you not noticing and having a false sense of security. Worst case scenerio, they will find another dodgy social media website that does not enforce these verifications and be exposed to much more horrible content than main stream social media. Blanket bans are almost always less efficient than a parent getting digital literacy and imposing these rules by custom methods.

    • warm@kbin.earth
      232·
      3 days ago

      As a parent you could tell them its prohibited anyway. You can literally block access to it.

    • Virtvirt588@lemmy.worldEnglish
      81·
      3 days ago

      Dont be crying when your kids leave you without contact one day. Also because it is easier, it don’t automatically make it a good choice - your kids are not machines.

    • a4ng3l@lemmy.worldEnglish
      62·
      3 days ago

      Why aren’t you parenting them on this topic then? Beside the parenting bits you can also put in place technical measures to filter out what they can access… reasonably so. And when they break out of those controls it also means that they are smart enough to take on the internet anyway.

        • a4ng3l@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          2 days ago

          I have two… I kind of see… I’m not claiming expertise but « matey » isn’t on his first trip…

    • birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      42·
      2 days ago

      Why not explain to them how to safely navigate the internet, and tell them that if they ever encounter something strange, they can speak to you? Why not put up blockers yourself? Or not give them access to social media in the first place?