White House Opposes UK Social Media Ban

White House Urges UK Against Under-16 Social Media Ban

The White House, in a submission to a UK government consultation, has urged the United Kingdom not to implement a ban on social media access for individuals under 16 years of age. This intervention, communicated via the U.S. embassy in London, occurred as the UK government considers new online safety measures, including potential restrictions on social media use for minors.

The U.S. government stated that such restrictions could impose a "disproportionate" burden on American technology companies. It expressed concerns about "prescribed one-size-fits-all government restrictions" and "blunt regulatory instruments" for addressing online harms to children. The White House also argued that technical methods for age-gating between 13 and 16 years old are not readily adaptable from existing adult/minor distinctions.

Instead of outright bans, the U.S. administration recommended that the UK focus on providing parents with "robust tools" to manage children's privacy settings and account controls. It also suggested requiring platforms to offer a healthy online experience. This stance aligns with previous U.S. concerns regarding UK and EU legislative approaches that are perceived to disproportionately affect American tech firms, as evidenced by criticisms of the UK's Online Safety Act.