• Source:JND
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The United Kingdom is the latest country to ban obscene content on social media for children. As part of these rules, the government has directed AI chatbot providers with the country’s Online Safety Act, giving the regulators power to act against illegal or dangerous online content. The new rules will look at options such as setting a minimum age for social media use, restricting addictive features like infinite scrolling and imposing safety protocols to ensure the well-being of the children. 

The plans, which were broadly outlined in a Substack post by the UK Prime Minister Keir Stammer said that the government will be launching a campaign to help parents talk with their children about online risks that social media poses. The new rules will also enable lawmakers to respond more swiftly to the emerging behaviours of children without waiting for lengthy primary legislation. It will also strengthen protections, including preserving vital digital data when it’s relevant to serious incidents. 

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How Will The New Rules Change Social Media Usage For Children?

  • As part of the new rules, mobile phones will be banned in classrooms. The government will appoint special Ofsted inspectors who will ensure that the ban is properly imposed. 

  • To help parents control their children, the government will provide data-backed evidence on how long children between the ages of 5 and 16 should spend looking at phone, tablet and computer screens.

  • A new rule for children below the age of five will also be published in April. 

  • The government is also debating whether to impose a blanket ban on social media or impose reasonable restrictions on the use of social media.  

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    Social Media Rules Around The World

    • Australia: In 2024, Australia became the first country in the world to impose a complete ban on children under the age of 16 to prevent them from using social media. Companies have to mandatorily verify the age of the children or face heavy fines for children under the age of 16. 

  • France: The European country has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use. It necessitates mandatory parental consent for children under that age.

  • United States: The US does not have a nationwide social media ban for kids, but the federal COPPA law restricts data collection from children under 13.

  • China: China has some of the strictest rules curbing the usage of social media. Minors in China face time limits on social media and gaming apps, and the platforms must provide dedicated ‘youth modes’ that filter content and restrict usage hours.

  • South Korea: South Korea previously implemented a “shutdown law" limiting minors’ gaming at night, which was later repealed. But it still enforces strong youth protection and content filtering rules.

  • Norway: The Scandinavian country has proposed to raise the minimum age for using social media in the country to 15 years under the EU’s digital restrictions.

  • India: India doesn’t have a legal framework for restricting social media usage for minors. However, in 2023, the government introduced the Digital Personal Data Protection. As part of this rule, the government proposed that individuals under 18 can only create social media accounts with verifiable parental or guardian consent before their personal data is processed. However, this is still in the feedback stage.


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