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Questions remain on how it will work
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media use for under-16s, modeled after Australia's approach, with additional restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds, including a likely night-time curfew.
- The ban excludes gaming platforms but requires disabling livestreaming features, raising questions about enforcement and effectiveness given Australia's struggles with weak age verification.
- Implementation responsibility lies with individual social media platforms rather than device gatekeepers like Apple or Google, with less than a year to devise effective solutions before the ban's planned rollout.
- Experts caution that blocking social media is not a comprehensive solution to toxic online behavior, emphasizing that the issue is societal and requires broader interventions beyond technology bans.
- Concerns remain about pushing children toward less regulated online spaces, potential legal challenges due to rapid policy rollout, and political implications involving tech regulation and international relations at the upcoming G7 summit.
