New Delhi (India), June 15: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a sweeping crackdown on children's access to social media, unveiling plans to ban users under the age of 16 from major social networking platforms.
The proposed restrictions will apply to leading platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, as part of the UK government's efforts to strengthen online safety for children and teenagers.
Under the plan, individuals below the age of 16 will be prohibited from creating or maintaining accounts on these platforms. However, messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will remain exempt from the restrictions.
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In a video message on social media platform X, British PM said, "These days, kids have to find their feet in a world that changes so quickly, where technology intrudes into every area of their lives. And we know that harms them. The response from parents in the consultation has been absolutely clear. Thousands of parents say their children are addicted to social media. It can leave them trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep, and time with the family."
"It can harm their mental health. And frankly, parents need our support on this. That is why today the government has decided to ban social media access for children under 16," he added.
Starmer further stated that the decision is very well thought out and the government hasn't rushed into it.
"We'll have to adapt our approach as technology changes. Learn from other countries which are taking similar steps and it's fair to say that this decision has been resisted and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world," he added.
Notably, major social media platforms including YouTube and Snapchat have expressed dissatisfaction with this move.
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It is worth noting that YouTube will be banned, but YouTube Kids has been exempted from this move.
The move is aimed growing concerns over the impact of social media on young people's mental health, online safety and exposure to harmful content. Further details on implementation and enforcement are expected to be announced by the government.
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