UK Bans Social Media Access For Children Under Sixteen

[Akinola Kholid]

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the government will ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. He described the decision as a major step aimed at protecting young people from the harmful effects of online content.

Starmer acknowledged that the policy would be challenging to implement but said the government could no longer ignore growing concerns about children's safety and well-being online. He explained that officials carefully reviewed available evidence before reaching the decision.

According to the Prime Minister, the government did not rush into the move. Instead, it studied developments in other countries and considered how technology is changing the way young people interact with social media platforms.

Starmer also revealed that the decision has faced strong opposition from some of the world's largest technology companies. However, he insisted that his administration would not be influenced by corporate pressure and would continue to put the interests of children first.

He argued that social media is contributing to unhappiness and safety risks among children. Speaking as both a parent and a national leader, Starmer said every child deserves a safer, happier childhood and that stronger measures are needed to protect them online.

The proposed legislation is expected to follow a model similar to Australia's approach, requiring social media companies to introduce advanced age-verification systems. The new rules are intended to prevent children under 16 from creating or using social media accounts.

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