️ The UK government wants to ban social media for children under 16.
But banning social media for kids only puts them in greater danger.
They will be pushed to use VPNs — and unlock far worse illegal content.
We’ve seen this before.
When the Russian government banned Telegram, 95% of Russian teenagers kept using it. They just moved to VPNs. Same in Iran.
Parents already have the tools to restrict their kids’ digital habits: parental controls, screen-time limits — or no smartphone at all.
Instead, many parents give toddlers iPads just to keep them quiet.
No amount of government regulation will fix that.
Under the new law, all social media users in the UK will have to “prove” they’re over 16 — with an ID, face scan or bank card.
Thousands in the UK are already arrested for political posts every year.
Is this really about protecting children — or identifying more people to arrest?
P. S. More about digital freedom in
my speech — the source material for our $200,000
clipping contest.
Pavel Durov, Telegram
