The United Kingdom is set to become the latest country to introduce restrictions on children’s access to social media, with plans underway to ban under-16s from using major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and X.
According to the UK Government, the ban is expected to be introduced in early 2027 as part of a wider effort to improve online safety for young people. Authorities are also considering additional measures, including overnight curfews and restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling for users under the age of 18.
Announcing the proposal earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said keeping children off social media is the best way to keep them safe online.
The developments have sparked discussion globally about the role governments should play in regulating children’s use of social media and whether similar measures should be considered elsewhere.
Asked whether Saint Lucia could eventually consider a similar approach, Education Minister Kenson Casimir said the country has not reached that stage.
“We’ve not gotten to that point. We continue to appeal to each parent to govern their child”, Casimir said.
The Education Minister, who is also a parent, suggested that in the absence of any local policy or legislation regulating children’s access to social media, monitoring online activity remains largely the responsibility of parents and guardians.
“I think we, as parents, need to take responsibility and police what is going on. At some point, at any random point, grab the phone and see what’s going on to ensure that discipline is always adhered to,” he said.
The UK’s position comes amid growing international concern about the impact social media can have on young people, including issues related to mental health, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and excessive screen time.
The UK Government has indicated that it intends to pass the necessary regulations before Christmas, paving the way for the ban to take effect by spring 2027.
