Impact of social media ban for under-16s in UK hinges on how firm it is

Questions remain over enforcement, privacy risk and whether it could open door to even more invasive measures UK parents: how do you feel about the ban? Social media firms hit back as Starmer announces ban for under-16s in UK It is a line in the sand for tech companies, according to Keir Starmer. And from next year, millions of children in the UK will be barred from crossing it. Under-16s will be blocked from accessing the big social media platforms from next spring, while 16- and 17-year-olds also face limitations on livestreaming and chatting to strangers when they finally enter the online world. At the moment, the minimum age is 13, a limit effectively set by UK data privacy law. The changes will have a profound effect on the digital lives of a significant number of young people. More than nine out of 10 of the UK’s 2.5 million 13- to 15-year-olds have their own social media profile, according to the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom. A further 80% of 10- to 12-year-olds – about 2.5 million people – use social media. It means that children and adults face a strict age checking regime when the ban comes into force. The government is determined to put in place a more effective regime th