Governments around the world are taking steps to keep under-16s off platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Australia has already introduced a ban, and now the UK is following suit. In a recent podcast, Stephen Byrne and Chris Stokel-Walker report on the implications.
Starmer's announcement
Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he wanted to ban under-16s from social media. He stated that parents were calling for more controls. However, children have different perspectives.
“Snapchat, for example, is one of the best things that’s happened to me,” a 13-year-old told Helen Pidd. “I don’t think adults understand, that is how we talk to our friends and fit in.”
Mixed reactions in Australia
Guardian Australia’s executive producer, Stephen Byrne, noted that the ban there has had mixed results, but many parents still support it. As a former YouTube star, he understands why children feel they would lose a valuable community if a ban is enacted in the UK. However, he also believes something needs to be done to protect children.
Criticism from experts
Technology reporter Chris Stokel-Walker thinks the ban is ill-advised and a political move. He claims the government is not waiting for evidence from its own study that would identify the best actions to protect children. “I just think it’s a really poorly thought through solution,” he says.
