TikTok, X say they’re ‘neutral’ on a social media ban for teens
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- The U.K. government has launched a pilot scheme involving 300 teenagers to test various social media restrictions, including a potential ban for under-16s, as part of a broader consultation on youth social media use.
- The pilot groups include teens with no social media access, a one-hour daily limit on apps like Instagram and TikTok, a curfew blocking social media usage from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and a control group with regular access.
- Representatives from major tech firms Meta, Google, TikTok, and X expressed mostly neutral or mildly opposing views on a social media ban for children during a parliamentary committee hearing.
- TikTok and X emphasized neutrality, with X noting that under-18 users make up less than 1% of their platforms, while Meta argued that a ban would not solve the government's concerns and stated children are not a significant revenue source due to advertising restrictions.
- MPs challenged Meta’s claim about children not being a revenue target, suggesting that early platform engagement could foster long-term user dependency and future profits.
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