this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2026
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UK: Under-16s to be banned from social media, Starmer announces (www.bbc.co.uk)
submitted 1 week ago by Tarambor@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
318 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Under-16s will be banned from using social media, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced.

Starmer says social media is making children unhappy, making it easier for bullies to abuse children, and is "designed to be addictive". A ban would give children more time, security, and more freedom to grow up - as well as more opportunities, he adds.

"That is all any parent wants. They want to know that Britain will be better for their children, that they will get a fair chance," the PM says in a speech in Downing Street.

Starmer adds that the government is "not prepared to compromise" on the safety and happiness of children - and that includes in the regulation and enforcement of this ban. He says the government has listened to and learned from countries like Australia, where a similar ban has already been introduced.

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[โ€“] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Of course! Whyever didn't the bullied queer kids or the kids in abusive households or the kids living in remote areas think of that? I bet they'd feel so silly if you told them they should just find support networks elsewhere ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™€๏ธ

[โ€“] kurikai@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

there were support networks before the giant social media companies. and they didnt harvest your data!

[โ€“] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

In a lot of cases (like the ones I already mentioned!!) there weren't!!!

[โ€“] kurikai@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

sure there was. you dont need big corporations to have support networks on the internet

[โ€“] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Believe it or not, those support networks on the old internet were still using social media. Whether or not a medium for interacting with other people socially is owned by a big corporation has no bearing on whether or not it is a kind of social media, and it hasn't escaped my notice that your shifting of the goalposts here has not made any actually existing policy proposals aimed at getting youths off it any less harmful in any meaningful sense.

[โ€“] kurikai@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

people hosted their own forums. that didnt require big companies. im not shifting any goalposts. you are simping for big companies who harvest your data and aim to keep you addicted and in echo chambers. all to sell ads that tell you you arent good enough as you are, to sell you stuff.

[โ€“] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Go off, illiterate king ๐Ÿ‘‘

[โ€“] kurikai@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

go have a cry corporate simp