Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the U.K. will implement a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16, responding to increasing pressure for child safety in the digital space. This ban could affect popular platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
The regulations are expected to be modeled after recent Australian legislation but will introduce stricter measures, including prohibiting livestreaming and communication with strangers for users under 16. Additionally, protections will be extended to 16- and 17-year-olds by default.
The government is also exploring further restrictions, such as overnight curfews and limitations on infinite scrolling for minors. Starmer emphasized the need for these measures, stating that social media contributes to children's unhappiness and is designed to be addictive.
The announcement has prompted inquiries to major tech companies like Alphabet and Meta for their responses to these forthcoming regulations