Streeting backs under-16s social media ban as government consultation concludes
Ministers are weighing an Australia-style ban, curfews and stronger age checks as doctors warn social media ranks with smoking as a health threat.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting compared tech companies to the tobacco industry on Tuesday, stating social media should be 'treated like tobacco' as it is 'extremely addictive' and 'bad for our health,' accusing Big Tech of borrowing tobacco's playbook to avoid regulation.
- The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges reported that social media 'ranks alongside smoking' as a health threat to young people, with doctors seeing 'a wave of radicalised children from exposure to hateful, addictive and grossly distressing content.'
- Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died after a TikTok challenge, will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday to urge him to implement under-16 restrictions, saying social media 'should be restricted until the companies responsible have fixed it and proven it is safe.'
- Technology Secretary Liz Kendall committed to introducing 'age or functionality restrictions' by year-end following summer proposals, after ministers pledged in April to act regardless of consultation outcome; more than 70,000 people engaged before Tuesday's midnight deadline.
- Questions persist about Australia's ban effectiveness, and campaigners remain divided—Ian Russell of the Molly Rose Foundation opposes 'sledgehammer techniques like bans' favoring existing law enforcement, while child safety charities propose British Board of Film Classification standards, though broader scientific consensus on screen time harms remains unclear.
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'It's all so tiresome': UK's social media ban trudges ever onward
The UK government's "consultation" on social media harm is over, and - brace yourselves - it turns out they're going to have to do something about it. I know, I was shocked too. The main talking point is that "social media is like cigarettes". Everyone is saying that, it's the meme of the day. It's a sentiment originally taken from a new report submitted to the consultation by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Titled "Growing up in an onlin…
“It’s all so tiresome”: UK’s Social Media Ban Trudges Ever Onward
The UK government’s “consultation” on social media harm is over, and – brace yourselves – it turns out they’re going to have to do something about it. I know, I was shocked too. The main talking point is that “social media is like cigarettes”. Everyone is saying that, it’s the meme of the day. It’s …
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