UK Conservative Party Leader Eyes Age Limit for Social Media Access
The UK's Conservative Party is set to introduce a policy aimed at restricting the use of social media by minors, with an age limit of 16 in consideration. Kemi Badenoch, the party leader, has outlined her vision, describing social media platforms as "designed to be addictive" that profit from teenagers' anxiety and distraction.
Badenoch emphasized the need for a solution that balances parental protection with adult freedom, stating, "We want common sense, protection for children, and freedom for adults." She believes the internet is akin to the "wild west," where social media companies should take responsibility for setting age verification protocols to prevent minors from accessing their platforms.
The proposed policy has sparked growing pressure on the government to act, with health secretary Wes Streeting having called for stronger measures to safeguard children online. However, prime minister Keir Starmer has previously expressed opposition to such a ban, and technology secretary Liz Kendall also shares his concerns.
Australia's decision to restrict social media access for under-16s appears to be influencing the UK government's policy options. The country now bars minors from setting up accounts on various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
Badenoch's party plans to ban smartphones in schools and work with social media companies to implement age verification tools. If elected, they will continue to review the scope of their policy to ensure effective protection for children while respecting adult freedoms.
The UK's largest teaching union, NASUWT, has echoed Badenoch's concerns, advocating for legislation that would hold big tech firms accountable for allowing minors access to their platforms. The debate around social media usage and its impact on teenagers' mental health and concentration continues to escalate in the UK.
The UK's Conservative Party is set to introduce a policy aimed at restricting the use of social media by minors, with an age limit of 16 in consideration. Kemi Badenoch, the party leader, has outlined her vision, describing social media platforms as "designed to be addictive" that profit from teenagers' anxiety and distraction.
Badenoch emphasized the need for a solution that balances parental protection with adult freedom, stating, "We want common sense, protection for children, and freedom for adults." She believes the internet is akin to the "wild west," where social media companies should take responsibility for setting age verification protocols to prevent minors from accessing their platforms.
The proposed policy has sparked growing pressure on the government to act, with health secretary Wes Streeting having called for stronger measures to safeguard children online. However, prime minister Keir Starmer has previously expressed opposition to such a ban, and technology secretary Liz Kendall also shares his concerns.
Australia's decision to restrict social media access for under-16s appears to be influencing the UK government's policy options. The country now bars minors from setting up accounts on various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
Badenoch's party plans to ban smartphones in schools and work with social media companies to implement age verification tools. If elected, they will continue to review the scope of their policy to ensure effective protection for children while respecting adult freedoms.
The UK's largest teaching union, NASUWT, has echoed Badenoch's concerns, advocating for legislation that would hold big tech firms accountable for allowing minors access to their platforms. The debate around social media usage and its impact on teenagers' mental health and concentration continues to escalate in the UK.
. Like, I get that social media can be bad for teens and all that, but 16 is still pretty young, right? I mean, most of my friends got their first phone at like 13 or 14, so how are they supposed to even know what's safe online if they're not allowed on socials yet? 
It seems like another solution just to keep the big tech firms from doing it themselves 
. And what about all the teens who have a good handle on stuff and can actually regulate their own screen time? 
like, what's next? Asking Alexa to take care of their feelings for them? 
It's like we're all just trying to find the easiest way to adult and social media is just making it worse...
. Can't believe they're trying to restrict our teens from social media... like it's gonna stop them or something 
. What about the educational value of having a phone? My little cousin got into social media at 12 and it actually helped her connect with her friends who moved away 
. This age limit thing just feels like overkill to me 
. Kemi Badenoch makes a point, I mean who wants 13-yr olds glued to their screens all day? 
it's like they're trying to build anxiety and distraction 
. setting an age limit of 16 seems like a good start, but what about the teens who wanna stay connected? 
, but I'm pretty sure my parents were always keeping an eye on me. This age limit thing just feels like we're being told what to do online again, you know? And schools banning smartphones? That's just taking away from our education... or is it for our own good? 
Social media companies should've thought of this 20 yrs ago 
. Badenoch's got some sense, but I'm not sure if banning smartphones in schools is the best idea 
. And what about free speech on social media? 
. I mean, think about it - kids these days are glued to their screens 24/7, and it's like they can't even put down their phones for one second 
. I'm curious to see how this policy plays out, though - will it really work? And what about all the kids who rely on their phones for homework and stuff? 
. I'm not sure about a blanket ban on 16-year-olds though, what about all the online safety education we could be doing instead? 
We should be teaching teens digital literacy, how to critically consume info, and manage their online presence... it's time for a more nuanced approach 
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. And can you imagine schools being phone-free zones? it's a whole new level of productivity and focus 
!
I'm all for this move by Kemi Badenoch! I think it's totally reasonable to set an age limit for social media access, especially with how addictive these platforms can be 
. It's about time these big tech firms took ownership of their platforms and ensured they're not harming young users in the process 
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! It's time for our governments to step up and protect us from the wild west of social media 
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! kemi badenoch seems like she's just trying to be a parent herself lol. 16 isn't even that young anymore, can't they just let kids figure out their own online lives? 
. i think this is just a bunch of nannies trying to keep kids in line 
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. What about all the educational apps and online resources that actually help kids learn 
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Social media companies already have a lot of responsibility for regulating their platforms, but governments are also stepping in 
?
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