UK government announces social media ban for those under 16 Comments
- Jean-Pierre
- Euy
It won’t accomplish anything, and what’s more, it will make teenagers even more vulnerable to data collection. The ban will be immediately circumvented by free VPNs. Later, when they ban VPNs for those under 16, they’ll download their VPNs directly from the web, outside of Google Play. Of course, these third-party apps will be free, and the product will be the teenager themselves, with all their personal data stolen. With this ban, social media will become even more popular, as it will be seen as a badge of rebellion—a phase of life that affects almost every teenager.
- Anonymous
- n5A
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026Good move 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻 And those who are against it? You need to get your mind straight. Don't be silly. They are trying to control the flow of information. You notice how BlueSky isn't on the ban list? They only want the next generation to see one side of the story.
- Anonymous
- t1%
Right decision from.UK government
- Anonymous
- 3SL
Wow... So what-- disconnect teens from each other? Make children under 16 play single player games only and inhibit their own development in one way and another? Oh but right, a whole ban is cheaper than better protection for younger folks apparently. Welp.
- SohailSays
- U{k
Why? When they consider 18 as the legal age then by that standards they should ban social media for people under 18.
- vrvly
- Bps
1. even in China got kids access to social media, only communication there is under higher control,
2. Bluesky is interestingly not included,
3. They can control all apps and their access, kids or some adults will find the way through, but this is going the way to collection of data about children to 1 place, open lid to collecting more info even among adults, then maybe even banning VPNs...
- Anonymous
- LpW
Finally some good news!
Social Networks are really bad for children development, as it takes the focus away from actually important subjects, while also exposing them to really unnecessary things in the internet.
For the adults complaining about how we will have to verify our IDs and how they will store/share/sell this info, tough knuckles, buddy. Social Networks are not an essential service, and if you really are concerned about privacy, you shouldn't be using one.
- IceColdPhone
- gxS
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026Main reason that just like you, I am heavily against this law. The problem is not the idea,... morefully agree, great idea but its a ruse for a mass surveilance plan.
- GM2
- tGh
While there are challenges in implementing countermeasures, it should be clear that there are far more examples of negative consequences than positive ones resulting from giving minors unlimited internet access. This is evidence that education about the diverse threats posed by the internet is inadequate and insufficient at home and in schools.
In reality, we've managed perfectly fine without social media, haven't we?
- Nika
- XBK
This is Good! Very good actually... It'll save the kids
- Anonymous
- YUU
Good move 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
And those who are against it? You need to get your mind straight.
- Anonymous
- HFd
First of all, children have different IQs and you can't determine by age who is suitable and who is not. Secondly, what if these networks are replaced by porn sites or bad video games or...? Thirdly, this law harms adults. I completely disagree.
- Anonymous
- smM
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026I don't live in the UK, but I am sure EU will go same route soon. Many people that a p... moreYeah, this works if the verification is independent government controlled. If they keep it managed by the for profit services, those services has another win in free data hoarding.
- Anonymous
- 5US
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026I don't live in the UK, but I am sure EU will go same route soon.
Many people that a p... moreMain reason that just like you, I am heavily against this law.
The problem is not the idea, but the execution of that idea, everyone will be affected by this, and I don't want that.
There is a huge difference between showing my age in a store to verify my age (long ago that happened to me, 35 now and last time was 13 years ago when I wanted to buy cigarettes for a family member on my way there) and doing that online, to some third party company, where my data could be stored longer than it should.
Terrible idea, and plain mass surveillance at this point.
- Anonymous
- B{4
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026Actually I hope it does work. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. But when VPN do... moreYeah good point. Sorry I forgot about the ID verification! I agree with you.
- Anonymous
- 60J
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026Actually I hope it does work.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you.
But when VPN do... moreI don't live in the UK, but I am sure EU will go same route soon.
Many people that a pro to this idea fully ignore that not only kids will be restricted, but anybody not sending their info to verify ones age (via CC, ID or selfie) to some third party company, will be restricted in what they can use, just like those kids they vote this idea for.
And instead of making a UK wide / EU wide app for this, they leave it to third party companies to do this, the idea is ridiculous and I do not trust my privacy with it.
No, governments are also not always to be trusted, but I rather pick my country their (non existent) government app to verify my age, than some random money hungry company that doesn't care if the data is sold, or ends up on the dark web after a hack.
Everyone will be affected by these new laws, I know that, but many people that want this do not, they think companies ans government "magically" know who is and who is not old enough.
I really think this is a bad idea. This is not going to protect the kiddos; it's only going to make it where adults are tracked more intimately about their activities. This age-gating needs to stop before we cross the line of global socialism.
- Anonymous
- E5h
Anonymous, 15 Jun 2026As a 19 year old, I can say this is just for the best. People will be against it, but it will ... moreActually I hope it does work.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you.
But when VPN doesn't work for this because "save the childeren", it will not work for you or me (31 here).
Everyone will be restricted because of this, not only kids under a specific age.
Being forced to send a selfie to some random company is a poor idea, same wirh copies of IDs, or Credit Cards.
Because of course the gov leaves this all to third party companies, instead of making their own app to verify one age.
