The UK’s social media ban for under-16s has just empowered big tech | Taylor Lorenz (opens in new tab)

Age verification means that the sector’s biggest players will now have access to information that will only make them richer and more powerfulThis week, the UK announced a that will soon block users from communicating or accessing information on apps such as X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat unless they prove that they’re over the age of 16.The prime minister, Keir Starmer, called the policy “”. “Tech giants had their chance and failed,” , “but we’re stepping in to protect ...