Streeting urges social media ban for under-16s

The Independent emphasizes on-the-ground reporting across issues including reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, aiming to separate facts from messaging. It highlights investigations into political and financial influence and documentary work focused on American women fighting for reproductive rights. It states that donations fund continued journalism and that reporting and analysis remain accessible without paywalls. Wes Streeting compares social media to tobacco, describing it as extremely addictive and harmful to health. He calls for a social media ban for under-16s as the beginning of regulation, not the end. His comments come as a public consultation on online safety for young people is set to close, with proposals including an Australia-style ban, app curfews, and limits on addictive features.

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"Social media should be treated like tobacco it's extremely addictive, bad for our health, and Big Tech is borrowing the Big Tobacco playbook to avoid regulation. We've got to give our children their childhood back. A ban for under-16s must be the start, not the end. We have given the pen to tech moguls to write our future for us. It's time to take the pen back."

"The Government's Growing Up In The Online World consultation, which floated measures such an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s, app curfews and limits on addictive features, closes at the end of Tuesday. Mr Streeting said: Social media should be treated like tobacco it's extremely addictive, bad for our health, and Big Tech is borrowing the Big Tobacco playbook to avoid regulation."

Read at www.independent.co.uk