"Keeping Children Safer": UK Joins Move to Ban Social Media for Minors

The British government is pushing to ban the use of social media for those under the age of 16.

The ban covers a comprehensive list of platforms commonly used by teenagers in their daily lives, including X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized these platforms, arguing they are designed to expose children to dangerous content and induce addiction.

[Keir Starmer / British Prime Minister: This policy will make our children safer and happier. It will give them more time, more protection, and the freedom to grow.]

The British government plans to process the regulatory proposal within this year and implement it fully starting next spring.

With both the ruling party and the main opposition party in favor, the bill is widely expected to pass.

During the British government's public consultation process, 83% of responding parents stated that the risks social media poses to children outweigh the benefits.

Since Australia first banned social media use for those under 16 in December last year, this movement has been spreading globally.

Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have introduced similar bills or announced age-restriction policies, while France, Spain, Denmark, and Thailand have also joined the trend.

On June 15, the United Arab Emirates became the first in the Arab world to ban social media for children under 15.

However, questions and concerns regarding the policy's effectiveness persist.

[Julia Davidson / Professor at the University of East London: (Looking at the Australian case) It has been shown that about two-thirds of children and adolescents are not following the ban and are still accessing social media.]

At the announcement of the policy in the UK, concerns were raised about potential backlash from U.S. President Donald Trump or major American tech companies, but Prime Minister Starmer emphasized his strong commitment to the policy, stating, "This is a fight for what we believe is right."

Video by Chae Chul-ho
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.