The British government is pushing a plan to completely block social media (SNS) use by children and teens under 16. It is also tightening measures that ban smartphone use in schools. The idea is to bring to Britain the "SNS clean zone" model that Australia implemented first in the world. The core is to regulate addictive algorithms that threaten children's mental health and to completely banish digital devices from classrooms.

In Sydney, a teenager poses holding a mobile phone as a law banning social media for users under 16 takes effect. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

On the 19th (local time), local media including the Financial Times (FT) said the British government began consultations to block children's access to SNS and regulate addictive design. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had been cautious about an outright ban, but as parents' concerns grew, he recently shifted toward saying the state should step in.

An amendment to the child welfare and schools bill has been introduced in the House of Lords. British outlets said it is expected to pass smoothly, as it has bipartisan support from figures including Baroness Luciana Berger of the Labor Party and Baroness Floella Benjamin of the Liberal Democrats.

There are two pillars to the proposal: age limits and addiction prevention. First, the British government will overhaul features provided by platforms like TikTok and Instagram, such as "infinite scroll" and "consecutive login rewards." The intent is to remove mechanisms that keep kids glued to their screens. Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Liz Kendall said, "We took additional steps in response to parents' concerns that last year's Online Safety Act alone is not enough."

A suitcase containing students' mobile phones sits in a classroom at Jean Mermoz Vocational High School in Montsoult, a northern suburb of Paris, on the 14th. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

Smartphones are also expected to disappear inside school walls. The Ministry of Education decided to impose a blanket ban on electronic device use on school grounds, including during breaks and lunchtime. Education Minister Bridget Phillipson took a hard line, saying, "There is no place for mobile phones in schools. No ifs, no buts." Ofsted, the education watchdog, plans to conduct on-site inspections to ensure the rule is enforced in real schools.

British government officials will soon visit Australia to benchmark the relevant legislation. Australia introduced a ban on SNS for those under 16 in Dec. last year. In Australia, accessing apps like X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok now requires passing a robust age verification system. Britain also plans to set specific age limits and blocking technology with reference to Australia's example.

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