Following in the footsteps of the Australian government, the UK announced in June that under-16s are to be banned from social media, with restrictions said to take effect in Spring 2027. A week later, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, resigned as leader of his party. Neither of these events is connected, but it does illustrate what a shambles politics is today when governments need to be seen to be taking care of the vulnerable.
The ban will therefore include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. We do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the social media ban.
I still maintain that YouTube is not social media, strictly speaking, but hey, I don’t set the rules, unfortunately.
The social media ban for under-16s in Australia is not said to be going according to plan, if recent reports are to be believed. It’s said that between 60 and 80% of those under 16 are still on social media because, as we all predicted, kids are a lot more savvy at tech than most adults. Yes, the very same adult politicians that you voted for – most barely know their way around a PC or a cell phone – bring out legislation hoping for a boost in popularity. I would remind readers that this kind of behaviour can bring down governments – the Poll Tax did that to Margaret Thatcher – because those at the top, and I use that term loosely, didn’t take the temperature of the water first. In Australia, kids are bypassing restrictions by using fake birth dates, VPNs, borrowing accounts, and other means to get around the ban. Don’t politicians realise that this is what VPNs are for? I doubt it. Mind you, programming a VCR back in the day required a PHD in quantum physics, and the only way around that was to call on a twelve-year-old kid!
Will The UK Ban Work?
Back in December, I wrote Australia Under-16 Social Media Ban Now In Effect, and in December 2024, Jim Hillier wrote Australia Bans Social Media For Under 16s, with both of us voicing our opinions to say that, in principle, it’s a fine idea but difficult to control/police. There’s no denying that there’s nasty stuff out there on the web, and it takes all forms, including bullying, which has led to suicides. However, if the UK OSA cannot overcome these issues – VPNs have soared in popularity – I can’t see this ban working in practice.
What do you think?
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