John Swinney backs Record's youth violence campaign and considers u16s social media ban
dailyrecord.co.ukFirst Minister John Swinney has backed the Daily Record's Our Kids ... Our Future campaign as he vowed to consider a social media ban for under-16s.Swinney confirmed his government would "look at measures to tackle the negative effects" of social media after a similar ban was introduced in Australia last month.
The restrictions, which will not take effect for at least 12 months, could see tech companies fined up to A$50m (£25.7m) if they don't comply with the new rules.The move comes as Scotland battles a youth violence epidemic and amid the Record's Our Kids ...
Our Future campaign, which has repeatedly called on tech giants to do more to protect youths online. Our Kids ... Our Future was launched in February 2022 after we reported on a concerning series of attacks on teens and children across the country.In most cases, violent incidents involving youths were filmed and uploaded to social media for "likes and popularity" before going viral - leaving victims humiliated and requiring mental health support.Speaking of a potential ban in Scotland, Swinney told the Record last night: "It is vital that we ensure our children’s wellbeing is protected from the negative effects of social media.
There is now a growing awareness that social media can lead to disruption in school and increased incidents of cyberbullying, as has been highlighted previously by the Daily Record’s Our Kids ...
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