The UK is Moving Forward With an Under-16 Social Media Ban
Several other countries have introduced similar bans in recent years
The UK is about to announce a ban on social media for children under 16. The order will prevent access to certain platforms in addition to placing restrictions on livestreaming and disappearing messages.
Why it matters:
Social media is a vital method of music discovery and fan connection.
The UK is one of the biggest music markets. Restricting access to teenagers could be a huge blow for artists breaking through in the region.
Background:
The ban is meant to prevent communication between children and adult strangers.
The exact platforms that would be banned have not been shared.
Social media curfews for 16 and 17-year-olds could also be part of the proposed order.
The UK government recently opened a “national conversation” surveying citizens about children growing up in the age of the internet. Over 116,00 responses were recorded.
89% of parents who responded supported a “legal requirement for social media services to be a minimum age of access.”
Around the world:
Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia have already implemented bans.
Portugal, Greece, France, Denmark, Canada, and Spain are working on similar bans.
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
This article was written with information sourced from Politico and Music Ally.
We covered it because social media is extremely influential in the music industry.
