The #UK’s New Under-16 #SocialMediaBan Will Cause More Harm Than It Prevents

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/uks-new-under-16-social-media-ban-will-cause-more-harm-it-prevents

#SocialMedia #AgeVerification #privacy #cyberscurity #politics

"This week, politicians in the UK pushed forward with plans to eviscerate privacy and free speech on the internet by announcing a ban on social media for users under 16 that is set to take effect in Spring 2027.

The UK government continues to falsely characterize this policy as a necessary response to growing concerns about online harms for young people. In reality, much like the Online Safety Act, it will cause more harm than it will prevent.

Users of all ages are burdened with proving their age before accessing content, with social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X included in the ban. There remains no reliable, privacy-preserving method of verifying the age of every internet user and methods vary from one platform to the next.

Young people will not simply be protected from being contacted by adults or endlessly scrolling—they’ll also lose access to educational videos on YouTube, local events on Facebook, and potentially cut off from distant friends and family.

Public policy must be effective, proportionate and respectful of fundamental rights. Young people deserve better than a policy built on panic, and all internet users deserve a safe and free internet. A social media ban generates headlines, but it will not solve the problem."

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/uks-new-under-16-social-media-ban-will-cause-more-harm-it-prevents

#UK #SocialMedia #DigitalRights #AgeVerification #Privacy #Censorship

#Meta Lobbies #Congress For Protection From Child-Harm #Lawsuits

Meta has lobbied the U.S. Congress for legal immunity from child-harm claims tied to social media products such as #Instagram , as it faces thousands of lawsuits from young users and their families, according to a source familiar with the matter and proposed legislative language reviewed by Reuters. If adopted by lawmakers and passed into law as part of the #KidsOnlineSafetyAct (#KOSA ) under consideration in the U.S. Senate, such a provision could undermine thousands of lawsuits against Meta and other online platforms over harms to #children.
#socialmedia #security #privacy #childharm

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/06/18/2342227/meta-lobbies-congress-for-protection-from-child-harm-lawsuits?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed

How to create an account on #WSocial in 13 easy steps:

1️⃣ choose a username
2️⃣ choose a password
3️⃣ choose your interests
4️⃣ download the #WIdentity app to your phone (two options: Apple AppStore or Google Play Store)
5️⃣ scan a QR code
6️⃣ create a PIN code
optional: enable biometrics; re-enter PIN
7️⃣ choose whether you simply want to verify that you're human or if you also want to verify your name
8️⃣ choose the verification method (automatic photo review, request a manual review or scan your passport chip)
9️⃣ scan your passport's picture page
1️⃣0️⃣ scan your passport's chip
1️⃣1️⃣ take a selfie
1️⃣2️⃣ scan a QR code to link the W Identity to your W Social account
1️⃣3️⃣ enter your PIN code

Congratulations, you're verified*!

(* for two years)

Demonstration in all its simple glory here:

📺​: https://inv.nadeko.net/Vcq4MiabpEQ

Please save this toot as reference if you ever hear somebody say that IT'S TOO COMPLICATED TO JOIN THE FEDIVERSE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO PICK A SERVER 🤡​

#SocialMedia

⚠️ Surveillance-linked GDP growth is destroying social values, privacy, human rights and our climate.
- social values: creating dark patterns, algorithmic manipulation, black posting
- privacy: biometric psychography, smart glasses
- human rights: genocide in gaza
- climate: collapse of AMOC
#surveillancelinkedGDP #privacy #mentalprivacy #physicalprivacy #GDP #humanrights #socialmedia #blackposting #smartglasses #amoc #climatecrisis #genocide

Alt...

The text states that by tackling surveillance-linked GDP growth, we will benefit from both lower privacy breaches and also achieve climate justice.

#UK to require ID or face scan before you can make #SocialMedia accounts

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/uk-to-require-id-or-face-scan-before-you-can-make-social-media-accounts/

#privacy #cybersecurity #politics #AgeVerification #SocialMediaBan

The UK’s Teen #SocialMedia #Ban Is Political Theater, Not Child Safety Policy - https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/16/the-uks-teen-social-media-ban-is-political-theater-not-child-safety-policy/ "
This is not thoughtful policy. This is not considered policy. This is not protecting children. This is a desperate politician with no clue how any of this works announcing nonsense to grab headlines."

#UK to ban #SocialMedia for kids under 16, may impose overnight curfews

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/uk-to-ban-social-media-for-kids-under-16-may-impose-overnight-curfews/

#privacy #cybersecurity #politics #AgeVerification #SocialMediaBan

#UK’s #SocialMediaBan for children: the #privacy problems #Australia already exposed

https://proton.me/blog/uk-social-media-ban-privacy

#SocialMedia #AgeVerification #politics #cybersecurity

#UK unveils sweeping #SocialMediaBan for users under 16

https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/15/uk-unveils-sweeping-social-media-ban-for-users-under-16/

#privacy #SocialMedia #AgeVerification #cybersecurity #censorship

#UK may ban #SocialMedia for children under 16

https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/14/uk-may-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16/

#SocialMediaBan #privacy #AgeVerification #censorship

Every time I see a commercial on TV I enjoy seeing how many of the 7 tools of propaganda get used. The Ontario government commercials are a lovely source of this. Also the CHIP reverse mortage. And the hearing aid ad. (Their celebrities are so well known they have to subtitle who they are now)

Someone might have fun making a BINGO card for this!

follow along here https://www.elmcommunicationsllc.com/post/the-7-tools-of-propaganda-and-how-to-spot-them

#Propaganda #OnPoli #CriticalThinking #SocialMedia

The government has ignored calls to regulate age verification companies to ensure our sensitive data is protected.

Instead it has expanded ID checks to multiply the risks.

But the actual cause of harms is off the hook – how platforms use our data to monetise our attention.

Sign the petition ⬇️

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/break-big-tech

#stopKillingInternet #StopKillingTheInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #ageverification #onlinesafety #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol #dataprotection

With the worldwide wave of social media bans on major platforms aka digital verification, I wonder if we'll see an influx of people to the #fediverse

🤞🤞🤞 Here is hoping <3

#SocialMedia #Privacy #Ageverification #SocialMediaban #new

“Soon it will be virtually impossible to be online in the UK without handing over identity documents or biometric data to unregulated companies.”

The social media ban means EVERY user has to prove they're over 16. This puts millions at risk of their personal data being hacked.

🗣️ ORG's @JamesBaker.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366644294/Big-tech-must-introduce-age-checks-to-support-UKs-under-16s-social-media-ban

#stopKillingInternet #StopKillingTheInternet #socialmediaban #socialmedia #ageverification #onlinesafety #privacy #censorship #ukpolitics #ukpol

RE: https://social.openrightsgroup.org/@openrightsgroup/116753407017940135

Paging Simon Harris and pals.

#MastoDaoine #SocialMedia #ChildRights #DigitalRights #Article19

Where Real Online Music Reviews Happen
#musicianresources #MusicianTips #socialnetworking
#SocialMedia https://muz4now.com/2026/where-real-online-music-reviews-happen

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans for a social media ban for under-16-year-olds, following in the footsteps of Australia, Canada and Brazil. The embattled leader said: "We’re giving children their childhoods back."

Euronews has the details:
https://flip.it/rfxmq8

#SocialMedia #KeirStarmer #OnlinePrivacy

Dear businesses: If you use X as your primary social media platform, I cannot read what you post without also having an X account. Therefore, I will never see your posts. You’ve also alienated many others who might be interested in what you post.

Almost all of these enshitified, centralized platforms lock you out completely without having an account. Screw that.

The Fediverse is so good that legacy, centralized social media feels like a digital ghetto.

#Fediverse #SocialMedia

Surveillance has harmful effects on cognition and identity - deeper research and social knowledge is needed to foster healthy communities.

#ai #surveillance #surveillancecapitalism #socialmedia #blackposts #darkpatterns #privacy #privacymatters

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Text describes the harmful effects of surveillance on cognition, identity and mental health.

Elon Musk’s role was ‘instrumental’ in the Belfast riots, researchers say.

The newly crowned world’s first trillionaire is once again facing criticism over the violent narratives he amplified on his platform X.

“Musk’s amplification has been instrumental, contributing 64 million views”.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20260613-elon-musks-role-was-instrumental-in-the-belfast-riots-researchers-say?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

#Belfast #Riots #Musk #SocialMedia #Politics #FarRight #UK