UK to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced at the Labour party conference that the United Kingdom will implement a ban on social media for children under 16 starting in March. The regulations target high-risk applications, including TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram, and will introduce restrictions on algorithmic content and infinite scrolling for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Nandy described the ban as a "staging post" for a more interventionist state approach to policing and regulating online spaces. She argued against outsourcing digital safety to the private sector and criticized X for failing to attend a meeting at her office. To counter the influence of big tech, Nandy expressed support for the creation of a "public service algorithm."

The government also intends to give established broadcasters greater prominence on digital platforms, a move Nandy defended as a right to diverge from the views of the United States administration. While pushing for these changes, Nandy acknowledged the enforcement challenges facing Ofcom in implementing the Online Safety Act.