Post #493163

2026-03-02 19:01 UTC

The UK Government has launched a public consultation which is seeking views on whether to ban children from using social media. This consultation will run until 26 May 2026. It is highly likely that later this year, the establishment will attempt to introduce legislation which forces social media platforms (potentially including Mastodon) and VPNs to verify the age of their users. Therefore, this consultation is likely to be the only opportunity we will have to push back against these authoritarian measures. Please take the time to read the consultation and answer the questions (especially if you are the parent or carer of a young person): https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation

Replies (8)

@Mandrake@chitter.xyz 2026-03-02 19:16

Honestly, I'm fully expecting the Government to push ahead with their enclosure of the digital commons, but at the very least we should be able to say that we fought against it.

Open ##2003941
@Mandrake@chitter.xyz 2026-03-03 18:43

If you need help with your response, @ret has published his answers on his website: https://foxdog.blog/blog/uk-social-media-consultation/ (obviously, please use your own words and don't copy-paste)

Open ##2003943
@JimmyB@mas.to 2026-03-03 02:24

@Mandrake doesn’t allow me to answer presumably coz I answered I’m in the Channel Islands. Yet this will directly impact us. Just like Brexit where we didn’t get a vote…

Open ##2003946
@revk@toot.me.uk 2026-03-03 07:17

@Mandrake "children aged 21 or younger" I thought we called them "adults" once they got to 18.

Open ##2003947
@thegarbagebird@theblower.au 2026-03-03 10:08

@Mandrake fucking australia ruining shit for everyone again

Open ##2003949
@gendor@merveilles.town 2026-03-03 10:42

@Mandrake Looks like you have to support it being a legal requirement?

Open ##2003952
@vksxypants@mastodon.social 2026-03-03 11:36

@Mandrake filling out this survey and I genuinely don't know why these restrictions, if they apply to children, should not apply to everyone. I also don't want, for example, AI chatbots to simulate romantic relationships with my elderly parents, or allow them to make purchases in the app. Honestly, this is just such a disaster...

Open ##2003953
@PaulaMaddox@mastodon.social 2026-03-05 07:43

@Mandrake the end of the internet as we know it.

Open ##2003955