Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom (UK), said, Tech firms have had “more than enough time to get their house in order” as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, makes announcement on restriction of social media to teenagers on Monday.
She said, tech companies will “lose the right to market their products towards children” if they are unable to make their products safe for teens.
The announcement will encompass placing a ban on Under 16s from some social media sites and a curfew for older teenagers, according to The Times.
Ian Russell, a Campaigner, whose daughter took her own life after viewing harmful content online, told the programme he was “dismayed” by reports of the ban.
In his suggestion, Russell said, the policy had been “rushed” forward for “a political reason” by Starmer. He said, “If he’s playing politics, what he’s doing is gambling with young people’s lives – and I find that deplorable,’
Nandy said, the huge majority of responses to the consultation by the government had supported a social media ban for under-16-year-olds.
Acknowledging the ban in Australia, she said, it revealed some juveniles will find ways to avoid restrictions, however, argued it changed the audacity of the usage of social media at a young age.
“At the ages of 8, 9, 10 and 11, children aren’t presuming they are going to be in these spaces because all of their friends are.
“It significantly changes the culture, which is why it is something we have seriously considered, and the prime minister will have more to say about that tomorrow.”
She said, the situation is an urgent one, and that, young people currently need help.
“We cannot stand aside and not act when we see that very clearly”, Nandy said.
She added: “Tech companies have had more than enough time to get their own house in order and to be able to create products that keep children safe online.
“If they are not prepared to do it, they lose the right frankly to market their products towards children.”
In 2025, Australia placed a ban on children from ten (10) platforms including Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
Photos: Icons of social media platforms
