Social media ban - bold and blunt, but no silver bullet
Summary
The UK government announced a plan to ban social media use for children under 16, following a similar approach to Australia’s model. The ban will include additional restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds, such as a possible night-time curfew, but gaming platforms will largely be exempt except for livestreaming features.Key Facts
- The UK will ban social media for users under 16 years old, based on Australia’s experience.
- Additional limits will apply to 16 and 17-year-olds, possibly including a night-time curfew.
- Gaming platforms will mostly be exempt from the ban, except that livestreaming will be disabled.
- Enforcement may rely on social media platforms themselves rather than device stores like Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
- Australia’s social media ban has faced problems because many children already had accounts before the ban started.
- The UK government acknowledges the ban is not a complete solution to online safety but aims to reduce harm.
- Some experts say the problem is with society, not just technology, and that banning apps might not fully fix it.
- Social media has been part of young people’s lives for over 20 years, with some using it for support and community.
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