politics
UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
No 10 is worried about retaliation from White House over restrictions to under-16s’ internet use
TL;DR
- UK ministers are lobbying the Trump administration to prevent a backlash against the new social media ban for under-16s.
- The ban includes restrictions on live-streaming, unsolicited contact on gaming sites, and "romantic" chatbots.
- Officials are reassuring US counterparts that the ban is not aimed at US technology companies.
- Keir Starmer plans to discuss the issue with President Trump at the G7 summit.
- Elon Musk criticized the law as "censorship" and a tool for government tracking.
- Exclusions include YouTube Kids, Lego Play, and Google Classroom.
- Further limits, like late-night curfews for older teens and potential VPN regulations, are planned.
- The ban aims to address issues like children's unhappiness, bullying, and mental health concerns.
- Tech companies like Meta and YouTube have warned that bans could push teens to less safe alternatives.
- Ofcom will develop enforcement proposals, potentially including age verification methods.
- The ban is expected to be in place by early 2027.