Opposition leader says tougher digital restrictions are needed to protect children’s mental health, curb online harm, and restore parental control over social media use.
The UK Conservative Party has announced plans to block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms if it returns to power, as part of a broader digital safety and child protection agenda. The proposal was disclosed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who said the party is prepared to take decisive action to address what she described as the growing harm social media poses to young people.
Speaking on the issue, Badenoch argued that social media platforms have failed to adequately protect children from exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, addictive algorithms, and online exploitation. She maintained that the mental health crisis among young people is being worsened by unrestricted access to digital platforms, adding that stronger age-based controls are long overdue.
Under the proposed policy, social media companies would be required to enforce stricter age-verification measures to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. Badenoch stressed that the responsibility should not fall solely on parents, insisting that technology firms must be legally compelled to prioritise child safety over profit.
The announcement has already sparked widespread debate across the UK, with supporters welcoming the move as a necessary safeguard for children, while critics argue that enforcing such a ban could prove difficult and may raise concerns around privacy, digital rights, and freedom of expression. Some technology experts have also questioned how effective age-verification systems can be implemented without intrusive data collection.
Badenoch, however, defended the proposal, stating that protecting children must take precedence over commercial interests and political hesitation. She noted that several countries are already exploring or implementing similar restrictions, signalling a global shift toward tighter regulation of social media platforms.
The policy forms part of the Conservatives’ broader strategy to reassert authority on law, order, and social responsibility ahead of future elections, positioning child welfare and digital reform as central campaign issues. If implemented, the plan would represent one of the toughest social media restrictions for minors in the UK to date, potentially reshaping how young people interact with digital platforms.
Post a Comment