00:00Today is a big moment for our country.
00:03This is a big step.
00:05Real change for our children and our future.
00:10Because today I can announce
00:13that the government will ban access to social media
00:17for all children under the age of 16.
00:23This is not something I do lightly
00:26and I will not present it as cost-free.
00:30As if social media has brought no benefits to young people.
00:34Because clearly that is wrong.
00:37But government is always about choices.
00:40And it's clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.
00:46I come to it as a parent myself.
00:49I know exactly the fears that we all feel
00:52when we're thinking about this issue.
00:55You know, all I've ever wanted for my own children,
00:59hand on heart,
01:00is for them to be happy
01:02and for them to be safe.
01:04And I think that's what any parent wants.
01:08But I ask the question now,
01:10do we truly believe
01:12that social media creates
01:14a happy environment for our children?
01:17Do we truly believe that it's a place
01:20where they can feel safe?
01:23I don't think I even need to answer those questions, do I?
01:27Every parent can see it with their own eyes.
01:30Social media is making children unhappy.
01:34It's making it easier for bullies
01:36to harass and abuse them.
01:38And it could even be harming their mental health.
01:41Exposing them to content that is dangerous.
01:45Because that's what grabs the attention.
01:47It's designed to be addictive.
01:50Of course it is.
01:52Features like the infinite scroll.
01:54They're designed to lock you in for hours.
02:02Features like the infinite scroll.
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