Conservatives Propose Curbing Teens' Social Media Access as Experts Warn of Addiction and Anxiety Risks.
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has signaled her support for limiting under-16s' social media use, amid growing concerns about the potential impact on teenagers' mental health. The proposal would introduce age restrictions similar to those implemented in Australia, where minors are barred from accessing a range of popular platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Badenoch's stance reflects shifting opinions among policymakers, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Technology Minister Liz Kendall having previously expressed reservations about the issue. However, the government appears to be closely monitoring international developments and considering its own policy options.
The proposed restrictions would aim to curb addictive platforms that some experts believe fuel anxiety and distraction among teenagers. Badenoch emphasized the need for common sense protection of children while allowing adults greater freedom. She suggested a balanced approach, where the industry sets direction and works collaboratively with policymakers to address concerns.
Under the Conservatives' plan, smartphones would be banned from schools, and social media companies like TikTok and Snapchat would be required to implement age verification tools to prevent minors from accessing their platforms. The scope of the policy would remain under review.
The move comes amid growing calls for greater regulation of big tech firms and the need for legislation that would hold them accountable for enabling children's access to their platforms. A major teaching union, NASUWT, has backed the call for stricter controls, arguing that social media use can have a detrimental impact on students' mental health and concentration.
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has signaled her support for limiting under-16s' social media use, amid growing concerns about the potential impact on teenagers' mental health. The proposal would introduce age restrictions similar to those implemented in Australia, where minors are barred from accessing a range of popular platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Badenoch's stance reflects shifting opinions among policymakers, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Technology Minister Liz Kendall having previously expressed reservations about the issue. However, the government appears to be closely monitoring international developments and considering its own policy options.
The proposed restrictions would aim to curb addictive platforms that some experts believe fuel anxiety and distraction among teenagers. Badenoch emphasized the need for common sense protection of children while allowing adults greater freedom. She suggested a balanced approach, where the industry sets direction and works collaboratively with policymakers to address concerns.
Under the Conservatives' plan, smartphones would be banned from schools, and social media companies like TikTok and Snapchat would be required to implement age verification tools to prevent minors from accessing their platforms. The scope of the policy would remain under review.
The move comes amid growing calls for greater regulation of big tech firms and the need for legislation that would hold them accountable for enabling children's access to their platforms. A major teaching union, NASUWT, has backed the call for stricter controls, arguing that social media use can have a detrimental impact on students' mental health and concentration.
, this whole thing is kinda worrying me. Like, I get it, we need to protect kids from all the crazy stuff out there online, but restricting their access to social media sounds like a total overreach in my book. I mean, what's the harm in a teenager spending some time on TikTok or Snapchat? Is it really gonna kill 'em?
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I remember when I was a teenager, my friends and I would spend hours playing board games or riding our bikes instead of staring at our phones. We didn't need TikTok to have fun, you know? And what's with all the fuss about addiction and anxiety? Can't we just talk about finding ways to make social media more user-friendly for teens instead of restricting their access altogether? 
. But yeah, it's good that the government is keeping an eye on it and trying to find a balance between safety and freedom. Fingers crossed we can get something that works! 
i get where the conservatives are coming from tho, anxiety and distraction are real problems that can affect anyone especially during this time of rapid change but at the same time, shouldn't we be talking about how to regulate these platforms instead of just banning them? 
. I mean, social media addiction is real, but so is freedom to express ourselves online. Limiting teens' access might help with anxiety, but what about the negative impacts of censorship? It's like, we need to talk about this more and not just slap a band-aid on the problem 
. We already have rules at home about screen time before bed, but even that doesn't seem to make a difference sometimes! Limiting access to social media altogether might be a bit drastic, but if it means reducing the risk of addiction and anxiety among teens, then I'm all for it 
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anyway, i think this is kinda necessary but also a bit extreme. can't we just educate kids about how to use social media responsibly? i mean, my friends and i were always glued to our screens back in the day, but it wasn't like we had access to all these newfangled platforms... 
. I'm all for common sense protection, but we need to talk about the impact on online learning 
. As someone who's "retired" in the sense that I've seen many life cycles come and go, I think it's essential for young people to navigate these platforms for themselves. Sure, there are risks – anxiety, addiction, etc. – but can't we teach them how to do this responsibly? 
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. That's a good start. But what about those who don't have access to smartphones or stable internet at home? 
. And what about all the educational apps and resources that are available on those same platforms? It feels like we're just throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
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. And yeah, I agree, we need to be careful about what we're exposing our kids to online 
. Let's get the kids involved in that conversation too 
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And let's be real, this is just a Band-Aid solution for a problem that's way more complex than just 'limiting' social media use. What about the root causes of anxiety and distraction in teens? Are we just gonna sweep those under the rug because it's easier? 
I mean, have they considered the impact on small businesses and entrepreneurs who rely on social media to reach their customers? This is all just a bunch of knee-jerk reactions without any real thought to the consequences. 
" but what's next? banning Netflix too?