Statement from WeAre8 on the Prime Minister's Social Media Ban for Under-16s

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We recognise that the Prime Minister's decision to introduce a social media ban for under-16s is driven by a desire to protect children and young people from harm online.

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At WeAre8, we strongly support the protection of children and teenagers. And this is why we have built the AI Shield that protects all teens from harmful content. 

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The reality is that digital technology underpins friendship, communication and human connection for young people today. The long-term solution is not restricting access to technology, but ensuring that technology itself, is safe by design.

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Young people deserve the benefits of connection, creativity and community without exposure to harmful content, abuse, exploitation, manipulative algorithms and endless scrolling designed to maximise attention rather than wellbeing.

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Now that this decision has been made, two further actions are critical.

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First, Britain should require all technology and social media platforms to remove violent, illegal and harmful content from their services.

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This includes hate speech, violence and threats, bullying and harassment, exploitation of minors, sexually explicit content involving minors, graphic violence, illegal activities and other forms of harmful content that have no place in environments used by children and families.

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These standards are achievable. We know this because WeAre8 has spent the last 5 years building the 8I Shield, a technology framework designed to identify and remove harmful content at scale while supporting healthy digital participation.

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Second, Britain should turn off the economic tap.

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Government departments, public bodies and advertisers should carefully review whether public and advertising funds should continue flowing to platforms that fail to adequately protect users from abuse, harmful content and exploitation. And they should call on every British advertiser to do the same.

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If a platform cannot remove hate speech, exploitation of minors, graphic violence and illegal content, it should not receive a single pound of taxpayer-funded advertising.

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Accountability drives change. Economic incentives matter. Platforms that invest in safety should be rewarded. Platforms that profit from harmful content should not.

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The debate should no longer be whether platforms can create safer environments. The question is whether they are willing to do so.

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Claims that stronger protections threaten freedom miss a fundamental point.

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The largest technology platforms already determine what people see, what content is amplified, how long people stay engaged and where economic value flows. They control the algorithms. They control the distribution. They control the money.

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That is not freedom. That is control disguised as freedom. 

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True freedom exists when people can participate in safe environments that encourage honesty, creativity and genuine human connection.

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The evidence is already clear. Many young people have stopped openly sharing on traditional social platforms because they fear judgment, abuse and public attack. Instead, they increasingly communicate in private groups and disappearing formats.

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Safe environments fuel openness. Safe environments encourage participation. Safe environments create the confidence to be yourself.

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The future of social technology should not be built on addiction, outrage and division.

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It should be built on human connection, safety and trust.

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The technology to achieve this already exists at WeAre8.

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The opportunity now is to ensure it becomes the standard.

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Zoe Kalar, Founder of WeAre8, said:

"Protecting children online is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Today's announcement must be accompanied by stronger requirements for platforms to remove harmful content and greater accountability for those that fail to protect people.
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If a platform cannot remove hate speech, exploitation of minors, graphic violence and illegal content, it should not receive a single pound of taxpayer-funded advertising.
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Children and teens should not have to choose between connection and safety. They deserve both.”

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For Interviews, please contact Anna Tornberg +44 7470 7677742

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