UK Considers Age-Verify Ban on Social Media for Under-16s

0:00On March 3rd, the UK government is considering a tough ban on social media for anyone under 16 targeting apps like TikTok and Instagram. To enforce it, one idea floating around is requiring every single user in the country to verify their age online, even adults. This comes from a new consultation launched on Monday, aiming for the strongest possible protections for kids online. Officials are asking the public if grown-ups should face more frequent age checks to keep children safer. This could go further than Australia's recent rules, where companies might use spatial scans to confirm if users are 16 or older. The goal is to block kids from addictive features and harmful content pushed by algorithms. Critics, including civil liberties groups, warned this would lead to mandatory ID checks or invasive biometrics for everyone. They argue there's no foolproof way to exclude under 16 without dragging adults into it, calling options like AI age guesses inaccurate, and privacy nightmares.

1:00Meanwhile, teachers unions push back hard, saying kids suffer not just from late-night scrolling, but from shocking videos right from log on. Tech experts admit current tools struggle to tell a 14-year-old from a 16-year-old, with kids already finding ways around scans. Other ideas in the mix include overnight curfews or prompts to log off, but many lawmakers want the full band instead. As the consultation wraps up, the debate heats up over balancing child safety with personal freedoms online.