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🇬🇭 Ghana /Culture & Society

Britain announces social media ban for under-16s

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban social media for under-16s, a move exceeding measures in other countries.
  • The proposed ban aims to protect children by limiting access to platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as certain gaming sites.
  • While proponents believe the ban will enhance child safety and well-being, some experts question its effectiveness and enforceability, and social media companies warn of potential risks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has proposed a sweeping ban on social media platforms for individuals under the age of 16, alongside restrictions on gaming and live-streaming services. This initiative, presented as a significant step in regulating big tech, goes further than policies implemented in any other nation.

It is clear to me a full ban is the right choice.

— Keir StarmerBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated his conviction regarding the social media ban for under-16s.

Starmer stated that these measures are designed to "give kids their childhood back," aiming to make children safer, happier, and provide them with more time and freedom to develop. The proposed restrictions would target popular platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as gaming sites that permit contact with strangers.

While the government asserts that a complete ban is the "right choice" for safeguarding children, some experts express skepticism about the effectiveness of a blanket prohibition. Starmer himself acknowledged the challenges in fully enforcing such a ban. The UK's proposed controls would also extend to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and X, though messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal would be exempt. Additionally, the government plans "world-leading blocks" on live-streaming and unsolicited contact between strangers and children.

It will make a huge difference, it will make our children safer, it will make our children happier, it will give them more time, more security, more freedom to grow up, and more opportunity.

— Keir StarmerPrime Minister Starmer explained the intended benefits of the proposed ban.

Despite support from some parents and politicians, psychologists and researchers have questioned the evidence base for such a ban's success. Social media companies, meanwhile, have pointed to existing safety measures they have implemented, such as algorithm adjustments, in response to regulatory pressures. They caution that a complete ban could inadvertently push young people toward less secure platforms that lack these protections.

Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger, an adult that you don’t know anything about?

— Keir StarmerStarmer used an analogy to justify the restrictions on online interactions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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