Craig Meighan

More than 150 youth organisations and young people in Scotland have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reconsider the UK’s proposed social media ban for under-16s. Led by the Scottish Youth Parliament, they argue that the policy could push children towards less regulated online platforms and call for meaningful youth participation and a children’s rights impact assessment. The campaign cites evidence from Australia suggesting that many under-16s continued using social media after a similar law took effect. The UK Government says its consultation included 116,000 people, that two-thirds of young respondents supported a minimum age of 16 for at least some platforms, and that it will continue consulting young people before finalising the policy.