It really frustrates me to keep saying this, but this isn't an under 16 social media ban.
This is a ban on anonymous adults interacting with social media now and eventually the entire internet.
It's digital ID to use certain parts of the internet (and once the precedent is set and accepted, the ENTIRE internet.)
STOP FALLING FOR "IT'S FOR THE KIDS" CLAIMS WHICH ACTUALLY CHILL THE SPEECH AND FREEDOMS OF ANONYMOUS ADULTS.
🚨 SUMMARY: The UK's social media ban for children from early 2027:
- "User-to-user" apps where people create, share and interact with content (e.g. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Facebook) will be banned for under-16s
- WhatsApp, Signal and YouTube Kids will be exempt
- Under-16s will also be banned from livestreaming, messaging strangers on gaming apps like Discord and using disappearing messages
- 16 and 17 year olds will face nightly social media curfews and limits on infinite scrolling with more details next month
- AI "romantic companion" chatbots will be banned for under-18s
- Adults can still access social media through age checks like facial recognition, digital IDs, passports and credit cards