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Britain Bans Social Media for Under-16s to Protect Youth
Britain will ban children under 16 from using major social media apps to curb harmful content and excessive screen time.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X will be off-limits to under-16s. This move aims to reshape digital engagement by targeting tech companies rather than children, reflecting a structural shift in online safety regulation.
The ban excludes YouTube Kids and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, and will also restrict AI chatbots simulating romantic or sexual relationships to adults over 18. Platforms that fail to enforce age limits risk multimillion-dollar fines. The government’s plan follows Australia’s similar policy introduced last year and is backed by over 90% of 116,000 public consultation respondents. Critics raise concerns about age verification effectiveness and potential unintended consequences, while Starmer intends to discuss the policy with world leaders at the upcoming Group of Seven summit.
Details on enforcement and additional measures, such as overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s, are expected next month, with the ban taking effect early next year.
Montana schools might observe parallels in regulatory approaches to digital risks, as similar concerns about youth exposure and screen time emerge globally. The challenge of verifying age and balancing safety with access could inform local strategies.
UK slaps social media ban on children under 16, including TikTok and YouTube
By AP via Scripps News Group, KXLH News Helena
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