“The [UK] government has decided to ban social media access for children under 16. It’s a big step for our country,” declared the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In a social media video released, Starmer also said:
- “The response from parents in the consultation has been absolutely clear. Thousands of parents say their children are addicted to social media. It can leave them trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep, and time with the family.”
- “We haven’t rushed into it; we’ve looked carefully at the evidence, and we’ll have to adapt our approach as technology changes and learn from other countries that are taking similar steps. And it’s fair to say that this decision has been resisted, and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world.”
Later, the UK PM addressed the press, followed by a brief Q&A. Some of the important statements made at the press conference are:
Addictive algorithms, infinite scrolls, and the harms of social media: “Social media is making children unhappy. It’s making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them. And it could even be harming their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous because that’s what grabs the attention. It’s designed to be addictive…. Features like the infinite scroll are designed to lock you in for hours… It stops children from doing their homework, reading, playing with their friends outside, and going to bed at a decent hour.”
“I feel for this generation. I think back to my own childhood. And yes, the early 1970s weren’t always a picnic. But we didn’t have to deal with anything like this. A technology that intrudes into every corner of a life, almost impossible to escape, that records every mistake,” he added.
There is a correlation between social media usage and children’s mental health, says UK PM: Responding to a question regarding social media usage really having an impact on children’s mental health, he said, “I’d say there’s a correlation. I’d say there’s a particular added issue in relation to the COVID period for children and young people. Our job now is to act on that. The ban today is an important part of acting on that, but it’s not the only part.”
The UK won’t stop age-gating and will go after games and live streams to prevent contact with online strangers: “We’re not just bringing forward a ban. We’re going further. We’re taking world-leading action on gaming services and livestreaming platforms, where at the moment, strangers can contact… any child unchecked.”
“Is there…
Source link
Disclaimer
We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our reporting and coverage. We blogs.grocliq.com want to be transparent with our readers about any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in our work. It’s possible that some of the investors we feature may have connections to other businesses, including competitors or companies we write about. However, we want to assure our readers that this will not have any impact on the integrity or impartiality of our reporting. We are committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news and information to our audience, and we will continue to uphold our ethics and principles in all of our work. Thank you for your trust and support.
Website Upgradation is going on for any glitch kindly connect at [email protected]
