UK Social Media Ban for Minors Has Privacy Experts Worried

The UK is set to ban users under 16 from social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok starting in early 2027, joining Australia and Canada in restricting minors' online access. However, privacy experts warn that age verification requirements could force platforms to collect sensitive biometric data and create unprecedented surveillance risks, potentially causing more harm than protection. Critics argue the technology for accurate age verification remains unreliable, and early data from Australia shows kids simply migrating to other platforms while exposing their personal information to potential breaches.