Social media should be treated like tobacco': Streeting calls for under-16s ban on certain platforms

A ban on under-16s accessing certain social media platforms is proposed as a health protection measure. The argument compares social media companies to the tobacco industry due to perceived addiction and harm. The proposal is framed as a response to large technology firms avoiding regulation. Government ministers are preparing to end a consultation on age limits, with a final decision expected soon. Concerns include whether bans would push children toward unsafe online spaces and whether restrictions would leave young people unprepared for technology at older ages. Possible alternatives include limiting specific app features such as livestreaming, location sharing, and infinite scrolling, curbing personalized algorithms, and introducing screen curfews. The consultation also considers restrictions for chatbots.

"Social media should be treated like tobacco it's extremely addictive, bad for our health, and big tech is borrowing the big tobacco playbook to avoid regulation. We've got to give our children their childhood back. A ban for under-16s must be the start, not the end. We have given the pen to tech moguls to write our future for us. It's time to take the pen back."

"Ministers have been running a consultation for the last 12 weeks on whether or not to follow the Australian example of setting a strict age limit on access. Other measures could include putting age limits on certain app features such as livestreaming, location sharing and infinite scrolling, where feeds reload automatically and the page never ends. Personalised algorithms, which create a bespoke content feed for users, could also be curbed and mandatory screen curfews are also under consideration."

"But he encountered resistance from some colleagues over concerns about whether it would force children on to the dark web or would leave them ill-equipped to use the technology when they reached 16. Ministers have been running a consultation for the last 12 weeks on whether or not to follow the Australian example of setting a strict age limit on access."

"The consultation is also asking whether age restrictions, curbing some features and time limits might be appropriate for certain chatbots. The consultation w"

Read at www.theguardian.com