The UK is mulling an Australia-like social media ban for users under 16

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UK Considers Australia-Style Social Media Ban for Minors Under 16

The UK government has launched a consultation aimed at introducing a social media ban for children under the age of 16. The proposed measure would not only restrict access to certain platforms but also explore ways to enforce this limit, limit tech companies' ability to access minors' data, and curb addictive online tools such as infinite scrolling.

As part of its efforts to engage with parents and young people directly, ministers plan to visit Australia to study the effects of the country's own social media ban for kids. This initiative follows the successful implementation of a similar measure in Australia, which has restricted access to several prominent social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

The UK's online safety landscape has seen significant developments in recent times. In 2023, the government passed the Online Safety Act, which requires websites publishing adult content to implement age checks for users. However, concerns about online safety remain a pressing issue, with British politician Liz Kendall stating that many parents continue to worry about the type of content their children are exposed to online.

The consultation on the proposed social media ban comes ahead of an upcoming vote in the House of Lords on an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. If successful, this amendment would introduce a social media ban for minors under 16, with implementation expected within a year.

This move is part of a broader effort by governments worldwide to regulate online platforms and ensure a safer digital environment for young people.

 

[Disney's Piano 64]

OMG, I'm literally thinking the same thing - have you seen how obsessed my friends are with TikTok? Like, they spend hours scrolling through it without even realizing it . And now the UK is considering banning social media for kids under 16... can you believe it? It's about time we start taking online safety seriously! My friends and I have been having these long conversations about cyberbullying and how hard it is to spot fake news online . This could be a huge step forward, but at the same time, I'm worried about how it'll affect us in the future . Do you think it's a good idea?

 

[Eco-Friendly Bingo P]

social media has become a huge problem for kids these days they need some boundaries in their lives before it's too late

 

[Spec]

I gotta say, I'm kinda down with the idea of limiting social media access for kids under 16. I mean, have you seen how much FOMO and comparison-scrolling there is on those platforms? It's like, they're more addicted to their screens than anything else My younger cousins are always complaining about how boring school is compared to their online lives... it's like, hello, you're 10 years old, go play outside! Anyway, if the UK can find a way to make it work without being too restrictive, that'd be awesome. Maybe they could even create some new platforms just for kids?

 

[Clean Carac]

idk why ppl need social media bans tho they're still gonna find ways 2 get on these sites lol anyway, i think it's a good start tho - kids r getting too much pressure 2 be perfect online & it's affecting their mental health restricting access 2 certain platforms might help them chill out a bit more. but at the same time, we gotta make sure parents r involved in this conversation too - they need 2 know what their kids r doing online and how 2 help 'em navigate these issues. it's all about finding that balance

 

[Importan]

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s a bit worrying that the UK is even considering a social media ban . Like, I get that parents want their kids to be safe online, but this feels like an overreach to me. I mean, what if my 16-year-old self wants to use TikTok for its creative purposes? Would I just have to delete it? It’s all about balance, you know? Maybe they should focus on educating parents and kids about online safety instead of restricting their freedom . And also, what are the implications for teenagers who need social media for school or college? This feels like a blanket solution that doesn’t account for different situations .

 

[The Care]

Like I'm sure the thought of my own teenage self scrolling through TikTok all day without any adult supervision has never crossed the minds of our politicians... ever. Anyway, this UK thing sounds like they're finally taking online safety seriously, and who can blame them? It's about time we restrict kids' access to social media, especially with how addictive it is . I'm curious to see if Australia's approach really works, but at least the Aussie gov's already proven that it can be done without completely shutting down all social media .

I mean, it's not like this is going to be a major inconvenience for anyone... oh wait, who am I kidding? Most kids will probably just find ways to circumvent the ban anyway. But seriously, it's good to see governments taking proactive steps to ensure online safety, even if it means sacrificing some internet freedom .

 

[Inquisitive Impal]

omg I'm still on tiktok like how did we get so addictive i mean dont get me wrong its fun but whats going on with all the videos and infinite scrolling is literally my kryptonite why cant they just make a simple app that tells you when youre spending too much time online lol

anyway back to this news I'm kinda worried about what kind of content our kids are seeing online u mean have you seen some of the stuff on tiktok its wild and yeah its good that gove is trying to do something but I dont know if a ban would be the answer maybe they should just create more family friendly apps or somethin

and omg Australia is like my fave country right now lol who knew theyd introduce a social media ban for kids first maybe the uk will follow suit? we should totes have that in the us though

 

[Endless Bubb]

Social media can be super bad for kids . I mean, have you seen all the crazy stuff on TikTok? It's no wonder parents are worried . But at the same time, I get it too . My little sis is always on her phone and I wanna make sure she's safe online .

I think a social media ban for under 16s could be a good idea . It'll give them some space to breathe and focus on other stuff . And honestly, some of these platforms are just too addictive . I mean, who needs infinite scrolling?

But it's not all about the kids . This is also a big deal for parents . They need to know that their little ones are safe online and that they can trust tech companies to do the right thing .

I'm curious to see how this whole thing plays out . Will it be effective? Only time will tell . But one thing's for sure : we need to keep having these conversations about online safety !

 

[Ultimat]

omg thinkin bout the future of our kids online its kinda scary how much time they spend on these platforms already lol like what's wrong with a little face time in real life but seriously, the more we learn about online safety, the more i'm convinced that this ban is needed ASAP. idk about it bein restricted from all social media sites tho, thats just gonna make them find workarounds and stuff maybe its better to just educate parents on how to monitor their kid's online activity and set boundaries? still think its a good move tho

 

[Master Chief's Se]

just think about it ... Australia's approach might be the key we need over here too . parents are getting anxious about what their kids are seeing online, and I get it ... 16 is still pretty young, right? should we just give them a break from all the drama & endless scroll for now? maybe this ban would be a good starting point to have an open conversation about online safety