Social media prohibited for children under 16 years of age. The measure was announced today by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and will come into force in the UK “by next spring”. During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer explained that “social media makes children unhappy, facilitates harassment and abuse by bullies and could even damage their mental health”. For this reason, thanks to the ban, “Britain will be a better country”. The United Kingdom follows the example of two other nations, first of all Australia which has already implemented the ban some time ago, while in France a law has been in force for a few months which provides for parental control on the registration of under 15s on social networks. Other countries like Spain are also thinking about it.
The measure, Starmer assured, “will make a huge difference. It will make our children safer. It will make our children happier. It will give them more time, more security, full freedom to grow, more opportunities. Ultimately – the prime minister remarked – it is the objective of this government”.
“It is not a decision I take lightly – added the British Prime Minister – and I will not present it as costless, as if social media had not brought benefits to young people, because clearly this is wrong”. However, he noted, the government has to make choices “and it’s clear to me that a total ban is the right choice.”
Starmer: “Our laws are an expression of our values”
The plan of the executive led by Starmer provides for a ban on the use of all the main social platforms, while on other sites and apps – such as those for video games – there will be restrictions (for example the impossibility for minors to chat with strangers). As for the possibility, although very high, that many will be able to circumvent the ban, Starmer observed that “that is not the point”. On the other hand, he pointed out, laws on the sale of alcohol to minors can also be circumvented, yet no one dreams of challenging the validity of those laws. “Our laws are rules – observed Starmer -, but they are also an expression of our values” and “give shape to the social contract”.