UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
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UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
1–10 of 106 posts
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#2Feels heavy handed, but the brain-rot seems to be quite real, so I don't see a better option.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#3Feels heavy handed, but the brain-rot seems to be quite real, so I don't see a better option.
The only thing that worries me here (although I'm not in UK; but if this practice will get adopted worldwide...) is how exactly the social media platforms will verify the age of their users. Pretty common worry these days, I guess, but I would rather not use any social media, including "needed" ones like LinkedIn, than give my passport to hell knows which third party or parties.
Oh yeah, and what about BlueSky, Mastodon and similar? Can they afford age verification? I'm pretty much sure they will be considered "a social media platforms" as well.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#4Feels heavy handed, but the brain-rot seems to be quite real, so I don't see a better option.
Parents taking responsibility for what their children can see and do on their devices is an option. Maybe free classes for tech-illiterate parents?
There are options that don't involve forcing everybody to prove their age and provide ID verification to access social media
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#5Feels heavy handed, but the brain-rot seems to be quite real, so I don't see a better option.
One 'better option' would be to hold parents more responsible for crimes that their children commit. And to broaden the types of abuse that the state can respond to—if parents let their children habitually drink alcohol to excess or smoke tobacco underage, social services tend to get involved.
Another 'better option' would be to prosecute tech companies that intentionally create addictive, harmful content.
Banning social media use for anyone unwilling to hand over their secure information to private third-parties seems like one of the 'worst options' to me.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#6Feels heavy handed, but the brain-rot seems to be quite real, so I don't see a better option.
The only thing that worries me here (although I'm not in UK; but if this practice will get adopted worldwide...) is how exactly the social media platforms will verify the age of their users. Pretty common worry these days, I guess, but I would rather not use any social media, including "needed" ones like LinkedIn, than give my passport to hell knows which third party or parties. Oh yeah, and what about BlueSky, Masto…
I'm in the UK; BlueSky already requires age verification for DMs, which I can no longer use.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#7> “Children will be given back their childhoods,”
As a parent, I completely agree. We need to protect children from the dangers of the completely uncontrolled "jungle" of social media. But above all, we need to give children back the right to experience a true, real childhood, made up of true friends, fresh air, friendships, and real relationships!
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#8Headline makes it sound like this has taken effect. It's just been announced
Might start taking effect in spring 2027
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#9Feels heavy handed, but the brain-rot seems to be quite real, so I don't see a better option.
The only thing that worries me here (although I'm not in UK; but if this practice will get adopted worldwide...) is how exactly the social media platforms will verify the age of their users. Pretty common worry these days, I guess, but I would rather not use any social media, including "needed" ones like LinkedIn, than give my passport to hell knows which third party or parties. Oh yeah, and what about BlueSky, Masto…
Mastodon instances will probably block the UK if they are asked to implement it.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#10Huge win for surveillance capitalism. If Agentic AI is the future of online interaction, shopping, etc., a signal of "this is a verified human being" is golden to advertisers.