London

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday the UK would go further than other nations, and prevent children from accessing “dangerous activities” such as live streaming and the ability to communicate with strangers, and extend restrictions on gaming sites. He said the ban would protect children from content that is “designed to be addictive.”

The proposed law would prevent children under 16 from accessing platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, but the government said messaging services such as WhatsApp would still be available.

People under the age of 18 will also be banned from having artificial intelligence “friends”, but the details of that restriction and how it might be applied remain unclear.

The law will put the onus on tech companies to ensure that minors don’t use their platforms, and they could face hefty fines for failing to comply. Starmer said he hoped the regulations would be passed by lawmakers in late December so the ban would go into effect in the spring of 2027.

“We don’t say: ‘Oh, look, a teenager managed to get a drink somehow, so let’s not bother banning drinks from children.’ That would be really funny!”

Big tech companies are likely to fight this effort, and the US Embassy in London published a notice about the proposed restrictions 10 days ago, expressing concern that the ban will not work and calling for children to be protected in other ways while freedom of expression is preserved.

In March, a A Los Angeles judge ruled that Meta and YouTube were responsible for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behaviors for young users. The landmark ruling in the US could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.

More than a dozen other countries, including France, Denmark and Malaysia were already considering legislation to restrict children’s access to social media before the UK announced its plans. Ireland is among those nations, but in one small town on the Emerald Isle, residents are already moving forward with each other – a lot.

Overlooking the Irish Sea south of Dublin, Greystones is one of the richest and most beautiful towns in Ireland. Its beachfront views, independent shops and close-knit community have made it one of the most desirable places to live in the country.

children without smartphones.

At a local teen store last month, CBS News asked a room of 11- and 12-year-olds if they had smartphones, and not a single hand went up.

“Maybe my mother won’t let me until I’m 22,” joked a girl named Sienna, laughing at her classmates.

“My mom told me that scientists did this brain scan,” said a boy named Sam. “It’s the same mind as people – they think the same thing when they’re scrolling and drinking alcohol.”

Rachel Harper, principal at St. Patrick’s National School, where our group of children are students, said he saw a worrying situation three years ago after children returned to in-person classrooms following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve seen an increase in the level of anxiety in my school,” he told CBS News.

Harper organized a general public survey, drawing 800 responses from teachers across the city. The results were shocking, with 95% of teachers reporting increased anxiety in their classrooms.

“We first looked at some of the reasons that caused the level of anxiety to increase,” he said. “The internet world has really had an impact on kids.”

The first concrete step was a voluntary code, with parents pledging not to give their children smartphones until they reach middle school. Many parents say that shared responsibility makes a difference.

“For me, it gave me the strength and energy that I needed to say, ‘No, you don’t have this app, or I’m going to put that block on your phone,'” said Alex Dobbs, a mother of four who signed up early.

Many in the community say they understand that removing something is not enough, however. Game nights at the youth cafe were organized, and children were given other entertainment options. Dobbs even let his children have the cubs.

“Greystones got that,” he told CBS News. “As a parent, you have to understand that you don’t just tell them ‘oh, don’t do this,’ you have to give them something else. I’m not saying you have to pull the sheep out of the back. But it’s a great excuse to go out.”

Now in its third year, the It Takes a Village initiative has launched a mentoring program at St Patrick’s National School, with 15 and 16-year-old students entering middle school to teach young children how to navigate phones and the online world responsibly, when the time comes.

At the local high school, those older kids also have their phones locked in their pockets during the school day. The results have been significant, with teachers reporting that students are more focused during lessons and parents reporting that their children are sleeping better.

The kids say they’ve noticed a difference, too.

“I talk to my friends a lot,” high school senior Anne told CBS News. “I’m not worried about the notifications I have.”

“I feel like you should be playing outside,” said Alex, 12. “Just not being on social media or keeping your nose to the screen.”