The UK government has taken a big and tough step to protect children from the dangers of the digital world and screen addiction. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a historic announcement on Monday that there will be a complete ban on social media use by children under 16 years of age in the country. The government believes that this decision was necessary to protect teenagers from mental and physical harm caused by harmful online content and excessive screen time.
**PM Starmer’s big announcement**
Addressing a press conference at Downing Street, his official residence in London, PM Starmer made it clear that the government will bring all major social media services used by children and teenagers under this strict ban. He also gave a strong message to tech companies and warned that the government will deal strictly with any opposition to these rules.
**Scope of restriction**
“I am absolutely unwilling to compromise the safety and well-being of our children. How to keep children safe online is one of the biggest debates of our time.”
**UK law will be more strict than Australia**
According to the Associated Press, the UK’s new online security measure is set to be one of the strictest in the world. PM Starmer has hinted that the UK model could be more stringent than Australia’s recently implemented social media ban law.
**Strict action in other areas also**
*According to a report in The Sunday Times*, the British government is considering going beyond traditional social media apps and also considering banning AI chatbots and online gaming features. Additionally, a “digital curfew” system is also being considered to prevent older teens from scrolling through phone screens late at night.
**Decision taken after taking public opinion**
Before implementing this major law, the British government sought extensive feedback from the public. The public consultation received nearly 116,000 responses from parents, children, and tech industry representatives. Officials say it is the second largest public consultation in British history. During the debate on gay marriage law in 2012, a similar number of people had expressed their opinion.