The UK made a stand on social media, but this is just the beginning

The decision from the government to ban access to social media for under-16s marked an important moment in proving the UK’s ability to put aside pressure from Big Tech and US interests and could lead to much greater change if the will persists.

The announcement, made on Monday, was not a complete shock. Australia fired the starting gun on drastic action to protect children from the harms of social media, and since its 2024 decision, there has been a strong appetite among policymakers from across the political divide to follow suit.

Moreover, the move will be considered a popular one in the UK, with polling from groups like the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) revealing overwhelming support from the population for strict controls to be levied against social media companies in the name of protecting children….