How UK's under-16 social media ban will work
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Live Events as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would impose a ban on social media sites for children under 16 and restrictions on gaming and livestreaming platforms to "give kids their childhood back".Below are details of what is being banned, how the measures will be enforced, and when they are expected to take effect:The government said it would block children using social media platforms whose purpose is to enable user-to-user social interaction and which allow users to post material with algorithms.This means the ban will include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, the government said in a statement.The government said it did not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp or music streaming services to be included in the ban, and exemptions would be kept under review.Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ban would be enforced through action against social media platforms, rather than seeking to fine children who find ways to circumvent it.The government said regulator Ofcom would conduct a rapid study to establish the best way to verify if someone is over 16, and would have a new enforcement strategy and funding.Starmer said he was aiming to pass the relevant regulations before Christmas and have the ban come into force early next year.A full response to the government's consultation on the issue will be published in July, fleshing out details of the policy.The government also said it would block livestreaming and stranger communication for under-16s, including gaming sites.Starmer said this would prevent strangers contacting children through these sites.The government will also be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under 18-year-olds, and will set out more detail in the response next month.Restrictions on functionalities banned for those under 16 would be applied by default for 16- and 17-year-olds, the government said.
The BriefWire