What’s behind Starmer’s social media ban?
The UK plans to follow Australia's example and ban children and youths under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the regulation is to come into effect at the start of next year and that the government will resist pressure from tech companies to stop the measure. Commentators raise doubts about whether the prime minister will be able to implement the ban, and how effective it would be.
Time is running out
Corriere della Sera asks whether the prime minister has enough time left in office to implement the initiative:
“Starmer could be ousted within a matter of weeks, and it remains to be seen whether his successor will also consider the battle against social media a priority. The current prime minister probably rushed to launch this initiative partly to secure a significant political legacy, but the political turmoil in London could end up undoing everything.”
Legacy-building
The Times welcomes the move and comments on Starmer's motives for it:
“The case for action on social media access for the young is unarguable. Sir Keir is right to say that the status quo is failing children and something must be done, however difficult implementation may be, to safeguard their wellbeing. ... This announcement smacks of legacy-building. ... Sir Keir, stung by criticism that he has proved to be an indecisive and ineffectual prime minister, is anxious to convey an impression of radical action. A social media ban would certainly outlast his leadership.”
A half-hearted measure
The ban isn't bold enough, argues online safety activist Ian Russell in The Guardian:
“The prime minister could have announced a decisive plan for change that banned personalised algorithms for teens across the board, and compelled tech companies to change their business models and tackle product safety at source. Instead, he has left algorithmic harm wide open to young people, with a ban that leaves more questions than answers. ... As we have seen in Australia, teens and children are able to circumvent the ban. ... This not only leaves them at greater risk, but will also mean that they are less likely to seek help for social media's negative effect on their wellbeing, for fear of getting in trouble.”