UK Social Media Ban for Under-16s Includes YouTube, Sparking Debate Among Creator Managers
By
Jesse Whittock
Fresh out the oven, still warm. Top of the tray.
Summary
The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced a social media ban for under-16s, becoming the second English-speaking country to do so. The inclusion of YouTube on the banned list has sparked debate among creator agents and managers. Jordan Schwarzenberger, co-founder of The Sidemen management company Arcade, expressed broad support for the ban as a signal against social media harm but questioned its enforceability and why YouTube—which he argues functions more as an educational and creative platform—is grouped with other social media platforms. The article explores the tensions between protecting minors online and the potential overreach of lumping diverse platforms under one regulatory umbrella.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe bit I have always disputed is YouTube has always been lumped in with social media when it is a search engine and an educational tool.
I am broadly in favor of the announcement as a signal of the harm social media can do, but I have questions over how enforceable it could be.
Why is YouTube included? It doesn't function like Instagram or TikTok for young people.
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