“Children will be given back their childhoods back.” 

That is the opening line of the government’s press release announcing a ban on a number of social media sites for under 16-year-olds. 

What a load of nonsense. 

The rules, which will come into place in 2027, will raise the minimum age for access to sites like TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit. 

It is currently set at 13 for most sites.

This digital Prohibition will drive teenagers to unsafe corners of the internet. Well-intentioned or not, it will backfire.

Young people will be banned from popular social media apps. (Image: PA)

Young people who are 13, 14, and 15 will be in effect prohibited from keeping in touch with friends from summer camp on Instagram or Aunt Joan on FacebookAnd when these teens turn 16, they are likely to encounter digital curfews (how this will be enforced is unclear) until they turn 18.

Keir Starmer says that 16 and 17 year olds are old enough to exercise the electoral franchise, the most solemn responsibility one has in a democratic system.

At the same time, his........

© Herald Scotland