Keir Starmer was warned yesterday that a social media ban for under-16s would clash with his vow to lower the voting age.
The Prime Minister was told that youngsters who will soon have a say in who runs the country get their news from apps such as TikTok – yet could be barred from accessing them under new internet safety plans.
At an event in London, Sir Keir was told by a 17-year-old called George: ‘I want to ask about the Representation of the People Bill which is being put before Parliament, and how giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote risks being incompatible with the social media ban for under-16s.’
He asked what the Government would do to teach pupils about citizenship and explained that ‘the majority of young people get their news from social media’. George also admitted he was an ‘anomaly’ as he watched the News At Ten while most of his friends consume their news on TikTok.
Sir Keir replied that he is ‘a big advocate of votes at 16 and 17’ and that Labour had broadened the curriculum in schools ‘because I think children and young people ought to learn about citizenship and how we operate the society more generally’.
But he added he was ‘acutely aware of your point about news’ because the rise in social media means people don’t ‘sit down as a family and watch the six or ten o’clock news’.
He said: ‘We must make sure we’re not cutting off sensible and good access for young people.’
The Prime Minister also revealed that the Government is concerned about how much time teenagers spend online as well as which apps they use.
Keir Starmer was told that youngsters who will soon have a say in who runs the country get their news from apps such as TikTok – yet could be barred from accessing them under new internet safety plans
The Government is set to launch a three-month consultation on children’s digital wellbeing next month
Asked what effect the proposed under-16s ban would have on those who use social media responsibly, he replied that the Government – which is set to launch a three-month consultation on children’s digital wellbeing next month – is concerned about features in apps that ‘mean you never stop scrolling’.
The PM added: ‘We need to look at that, because even if it’s good stuff, the question is how do we get people off it and not simply on their screen the whole time.’
