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Disney to Announce New $60 Billion Theme Park in Shanghai

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a plan to ban social media for children under 16, citing negative impacts on their happiness and exposure to dangerous content.
  • The proposed ban, expected by spring next year, would cover platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, but not messaging services.
  • This initiative follows similar moves by Australia and legislation proposed in Canada, as governments worldwide address concerns over children's online safety.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a forthcoming total ban on social media for children under 16, stating that such platforms are "making children unhappy." He declared that the government "will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16," warning that these platforms expose them to dangerous content and are designed to be addictive.

will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16

— Keir StarmerAnnouncing the government's plan to restrict social media access for minors.

The proposed ban will encompass platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, but will exclude messaging services like WhatsApp. Starmer hopes to pass the regulation by late December, with the ban coming into effect in spring next year. The government also plans to take "world-leading action on gaming services and live streaming platforms," considering measures like overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s.

making children unhappy

— Keir StarmerExplaining the rationale behind the proposed social media ban for children.

This announcement is influenced by Australia's decision in December to become the first nation to ban social media for individuals under 16. The UK's proposal follows a government consultation where British teenagers trialed social media bans and time limits. YouTube, however, cautioned that a blanket ban could push children toward "less safe services." Starmer emphasized the government's action on gaming and live streaming platforms that permit stranger contact, drawing a parallel to offline safety concerns.

exposing them to content that is dangerous

— Keir StarmerDescribing the risks associated with social media for young users.

Canada's culture minister recently introduced similar legislation, making it the latest country to crack down on social media platforms due to concerns about harm to children. Indonesia enforced its own ban for users under 16 in March, and several European governments have expressed similar intentions. The UK government's consultation received approximately 116,000 contributions, with over 83 percent of parents believing the risks of social media outweigh the benefits for children and 91 percent supporting a minimum age of 16.

designed to be addictive

— Keir StarmerHighlighting the addictive nature of social media platforms.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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