First Minister John Swinney Considers Ban on Social Media for Under-16s

John Swinney has announced his thoughts on a social media ban for children under 16.

First Minister John Swinney has considered the possibility of banning social media for under-16s.           

This motion comes in light of the UK government's statement that such a measure is on the table, especially following Australia's recent announcement of a similar ban. 

In a recent interview, Swinney revealed that he has been in discussions with Labour ministers regarding the issue and expressed his intention to examine various options aimed at protecting young people.

He emphasised the importance of finding the right balance between shielding children from the damaging impacts of social media and recognising its potential benefits.

Earlier, Swinney remarked to reporters that there is a strong argument in favour of adopting an Australian-style ban.

Currently, most social media platforms in the UK require users to be at least 13 years old to register, although some are specifically designed for younger children.

Under UK regulations, social media companies are prohibited from collecting or storing the personal information of individuals under 13, with only those 13 and older able to sign up for online services without parental consent.

Authority over online content and mobile phone regulations is retained by the UK government, as these powers have not been devolved to the Scottish Parliament.