Keir Starmer eyes Australia-style social media ban for teenagers
GB News8 hrs
UK Considers Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
Can a social media ban protect under-16s from online harm, or is it an unenforceable measure that risks unintended consequences?
Above: A mobile phone screen displaying social media apps in Ankara, Turkiye, on Oct. 1. Image credit: Ismail Aslandag/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Techno-skeptic narrative
Social media has become a breeding ground for toxicity, hate and extreme content that is overwhelming mental health services with damaged young people. Australia’s bold move to ban social media for under-16s warrants serious consideration as a radical solution to protect children from this increasingly antisocial digital nightmare.
Techno-optimist narrative
Blanket social media bans will not work, and risk driving children into darker, unregulated corners of the internet and increasing the impact of exposure once old enough to use. What young people need is supportive adults who can guide them through the digital world, not heavy-handed restrictions that ignore their voices and lived experiences.