Nandy says children’s social media ban only ‘staging post’ in online safety drive

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced that the government’s upcoming ban on social media for children under 16 is merely a starting point for broader digital regulation. Speaking ahead of the Labour party conference, Nandy emphasized that the state must take an active, interventionist role in policing online spaces to ensure they are safe and empowering. The government plans to implement stricter age verification and restrictions on addictive features like infinite scrolling by March. Nandy criticized the previous outsourcing of digital spaces to private entities, specifically calling out platforms like X for failing to engage with regulators. She also expressed support for exploring 'public service algorithms' to compete with big tech. The government remains committed to prioritizing child safety, even if it leads to friction with US authorities and major technology companies, signaling a shift toward a more assertive regulatory environment in the UK.