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Starmer vows social media limits

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to fast-track new UK laws to restrict children’s access to social media within months, though he stopped short of confirming an under-16s ban.

The Sidney Morning Herald
UK government aims to introduce social media ban

The UK government has pledged to fast-track an Australia- style social media ban within months.

UK government aims to introduce social media ban
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Kathimerini
Like Cutting Off Their Water

Is it possible to block teenagers from social media? Teachers respond to 'K'.

Like Cutting Off Their Water
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The Guardian
UK politics: Government abandons plans to delay 30 local council elections in May – as it happened

The government was warned by its lawyers that such a move could be illegal as it pledges an additional £63m to help councils with reorganisation In his Q&A with journalists, Keir Starmer was also asked to respond to a report by the BBC’s James Landale saying he is looking at plans to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by the end of this parliament. In the past Starmer has just said that he would like to do this at some point in the next parliament. In his reply, Starmer said that at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend he was arguing that the UK, and Europe as a whole, needs to “step up”. We want a just and lasting peace, but that will not extinguish the Russian threat, and we need to be alert to that, because that’s going to affect every single person in this room, every single person in this country, so we need to step up. That means, on defence spending, we need to go faster. Continue reading. . .

UK politics: Government abandons plans to delay 30 local council elections in May – as it happened
Reposts 62 9h
Der Spiegel
News of the Day: Social media ban, climate crisis, intermittent fasting, AfD, Olympics

Social media ban for teenagers: There is a lot to learn about dealing with tech giants from the dispute with the tobacco companies. Frogs adjust their croaking to climate change. And the bobsledders prove: Germany is going downhill. That is the situation on Monday evening.

News of the Day: Social media ban, climate crisis, intermittent fasting, AfD, Olympics
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
SPD push: TikTok and Instagram only from age 14?

The SPD calls for a ban on social media for children under 14. The opposition and the coalition partner are skeptical. The Union wants 'differentiated solutions'.

SPD push: TikTok and Instagram only from age 14?
Reposts 2 12h
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Use of social media: An overdue push

In a policy paper, the SPD proposes strict regulations for the use of social media and video platforms. Differentiation by age groups is a necessary spur for the debate.

Use of social media: An overdue push
Reposts 1 12h

by Mark Priestley

18%
markrpriestley.bsky.social
Will this be the next U-turn?
peterstefanovic.bsky.social Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 12h
BREAKING: Keir Starmer says he will 'move really fast' after a consultation into a social media ban for under-16s ends in the summer

The government has announced it will create new powers to make changes to the law around technology, meaning a ban could come in as soon as this year
February 16, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Social media ban: The SPD steals the CDU's show

The SPD comes ahead of the CDU in the debate over a social-media ban.

Social media ban: The SPD steals the CDU's show
Reposts 1 12h
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
SPD push: TikTok and Instagram only from age 14?

The SPD calls for a ban on social media for children under 14. The opposition and the coalition partner are skeptical. The Union wants 'differentiated solutions'.

SPD push: TikTok and Instagram only from age 14?
Reposts 0 12h

Reposted by Mark Priestley

6%
peterstefanovic.bsky.social
BREAKING: Keir Starmer says he will 'move really fast' after a consultation into a social media ban for under-16s ends in the summer

The government has announced it will create new powers to make changes to the law around technology, meaning a ban could come in as soon as this year
February 16, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Handelsblatt
SPD Proposal: Social-media ban for youths? Where Germany stands in the debate

Will Germany follow Australia’s lead and introduce an age limit for social media? The SPD is calling for it. How experts assess the ban plan and what role the EU plays.

SPD Proposal: Social-media ban for youths? Where Germany stands in the debate
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The Guardian
What social media restrictions has Keir Starmer announced?

Before consultation on under-16s ban, government to crack down on AI chatbots and get powers to act more quickly Keir Starmer has not yet given his full backing to a social media ban for under-16s. But on Monday the prime minister announced a series of measures to restrict the harms ministers believe online platforms are causing to children who use them. “As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online, ” the prime minister said in a statement. Continue reading. . .

What social media restrictions has Keir Starmer announced?
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Süddeutsche Zeitung
Debate on ban: Social media from 14 – or only from 16?

The SPD wants to ban TikTok, Instagram and similar platforms for children. For 14- to 16-year-olds there should be a 'youth version'. The Union struggles with its stance — at least until the party congress this weekend.

Debate on ban: Social media from 14 – or only from 16?
Reposts 1 12h
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Debate on ban: Social media from 14 – or only from 16?

The SPD wants to ban TikTok, Instagram and similar platforms for children. For 14- to 16-year-olds there should be a 'youth version'. The Union struggles with its stance — at least until the party congress this weekend.

Debate on ban: Social media from 14 – or only from 16?
Reposts 0 12h
The Guardian
Starmer vows to fast-track social media law but says under-16s ban not definite

Prime minister says action will be taken on young people’s social media access in ‘months, not years’ What social media restrictions has Keir Starmer announced? Keir Starmer has pledged action on young people’s access to social media in “months, not years”, while saying this did not necessarily mean a complete ban on access for under-16s. Speaking at an event in London after the government promised to extend the crackdown to AI chatbots that place children at risk, Starmer said the issue was nuanced and that a ban was not definite, noting concerns from charities such as the NSPCC. Continue reading. . .

Starmer vows to fast-track social media law but says under-16s ban not definite
Reposts 8 13h
Die Zeit
The Left: Reichinnek rejects SPD plans for a social media ban for children

The SPD wants to ban children under 14 from accessing social media. The Left's parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek wants to regulate digital companies more strictly instead.

The Left: Reichinnek rejects SPD plans for a social media ban for children
Reposts 2 13h
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Study: Hundreds of thousands of young people affected by social media addiction

More than a quarter of all children and adolescents use social media in a risky way, according to a new study

Study: Hundreds of thousands of young people affected by social media addiction
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Der Spiegel
Social-media ban for under-14s? Calm down! The grown-ups discuss it here - Commentary

The SPD and CDU want to exclude children from social media. One wonders whether the politicians were ever young themselves. There is a better proposal to make the digital space safer.

Social-media ban for under-14s? Calm down! The grown-ups discuss it here - Commentary
Reposts 1 13h
Der Spiegel
Is the social media ban for under-14s coming after all?

The SPD wants strict rules for using social media, and there are many supporters in the CDU/CSU as well. Now, with a new law, things could move very quickly—under certain conditions. Here's the overview.

Is the social media ban for under-14s coming after all?
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Die Zeit
The Left: Reichinnek criticizes SPD plans for a social-media ban on children

The SPD wants to prohibit children under 14 from accessing social media. Left party parliamentary leader Heidi Reichinnek wants to regulate digital companies more strongly.

Reposts 0 13h
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