UK joins Australia and Canada in announcing social media ban for under-16s to ‘give kids back their childhood’ | Today’s news

The United Kingdom has joined Australia, Canada and several other countries to ban social networking sites for children under 16, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.

He said the new law will also impose restrictions on gaming and live streaming platforms for these children in a fight against big tech that goes further than any other country.

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“Give children back their childhood”

The sweeping changes will “give kids their childhood back,” Starmer said, outlining measures against platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, as well as gaming websites that allow strangers to interact with children.

“It is clear to me that a total ban is the right choice,” he told a news conference.

“It’s going to make a huge difference, it’s going to make our kids safer, it’s going to make our kids happier, it’s going to give them more time, more security, more freedom to grow up, more opportunities.”

Which social media platforms will be banned?

Britain will use a similar model to Australia, which enacted the ban last December, Reuters reported, citing the UK government.

It will cover platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and X, but messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the ban.

Britain will also introduce “world-leading blocks” on harmful features such as live streaming and strangers communicating with children under 16.

“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would have your child paired with a stranger, an adult you don’t know anything about? No, so we’re taking precautions against that,” Starmer said.

Read also | Canada introduces legislation that bans social media for children under 16, regulates AI chatbots

When will the ban be issued?

The British government already has the powers to take the first steps in any ban, he said, with regulation to follow by the end of the year and a ban around next spring.

Britain has tightened its grip on tech companies in recent years, urging or forcing them to introduce age verification, adjust their algorithms and, most recently, prevent children from sharing nude pictures taken on mobile phones.

But with growing awareness of the mental health risks posed by children spending too much time online, Starmer decided to go further after talking to parents and considering evidence from Australia.

Starmer, who is likely to face a leadership challenge in the coming weeks, said people were right to expect action.

Which countries have banned social networks for children?

Australia was the first country to ban social media for under-16s, blocking their access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook last December.

Since then, a number of countries have said they plan to regulate access to social media amid growing concerns about its impact on children’s health and safety.

Read also | Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube not fully complying with child account ban, Australia saysCountryLimitation and scopeAustraliaThe first to introduce a strict nationwide ban on under 16s. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube must enforce this or face massive fines that force users to undergo strict age verification (such as face scans or ID checks).BrazilAccording to Digital ECA laws, minors have access to social networks and online gaming platforms. Requires parental consent up to 16 years and uses mandatory identity or facial verification.IndonesiaStrict measures modeled on the Australian framework have been implemented, blocking users from major social apps and gaming networks up to 16 years.MalaysiaBlocks children from accessing any online platform with over 8 million users (including YouTube and TikTok). up to 16 years.CanadaFederal legislation introduced to ban children up to 16 years from opening social media accounts unless the platforms can explicitly demonstrate that they have met strict security and encryption exemptions.France and DenmarkEnforcing and expanding age limits, with France setting a threshold for “digital consent”. 15 and Denmark restricting non-consensual access for persons under 15.