UK to Ban 'Harmful' Social Media for Kids Under 16
PM Keir Starmer plans to block children from accessing dangerous online platforms while keeping 'safer' alternatives available.
The UK is drawing a hard line on kids and social media. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a ban that would block children under 16 from accessing online platforms deemed "harmful."
The move won't be a blanket social media blackout, though. Platforms classified as "safer" would still be accessible to younger users. The distinction between harmful and safer platforms will be key — and likely contentious.
Britain has been steadily tightening its grip on tech regulation, and this latest push targets the intersection of child safety and platform accountability. The announcement signals that the UK government is willing to create a tiered system where not all social media is treated equally.
Details on enforcement mechanisms and which platforms fall into which category remain to be seen. The devil, as always, is in the implementation.