UK announces social media ban for children under-16

Why in News?

The United Kingdom government has announced that children under the age of 16 will be prohibited from accessing high-risk social media platforms from early 2027. The policy aims to protect children from harmful online content and interactions, making the UK one of the latest countries to impose age-based restrictions on social media use.

What is the New Policy?

The UK government will not impose a blanket ban on all social media platforms. Instead, it will restrict access to high-risk social media services and block features considered particularly harmful to children, such as livestreaming and communication with strangers. The restrictions will also extend to certain online gaming platforms that enable social interaction.

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the move as a “big moment” that would help “give young people their childhood back” by reducing their exposure to online harms.

Global Trend

The UK joins a growing number of countries that have introduced age-based restrictions on social media. Countries such as Australia and Indonesia have adopted similar measures targeting users below 16 or 18 years of age.

Some countries have gone further by imposing nationwide restrictions on foreign social media platforms. China and Iran maintain extensive restrictions on major international social media platforms. In India, the government banned TikTok in 2020, citing national security concerns.

Concerns and Challenges

The effectiveness of such restrictions remains a subject of debate. One major concern is that children may use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass age verification and access restricted platforms.

Digital rights advocates have also raised privacy concerns, arguing that stronger age-verification mechanisms may require users to share sensitive personal information with online platforms, increasing the risk of misuse of personal data.

Technology companies, including Meta, as well as platforms like YouTube and Snapchat, have argued that outright bans may not improve children’s online safety. Instead, they contend that restricting access to mainstream platforms could push teenagers towards less regulated and potentially more harmful online services, where safety standards and content moderation are weaker.

Sources: BBC & Others