Durov criticized the British initiative to ban social media for children under 16
Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, has criticized the British government’s plans to ban users under the age of 16 from accessing social media.
According to the plan, the relevant law is to be passed by the end of 2026, and it could take effect as early as next spring.
Pavel Durov stated that such a ban could “put children at even greater risk,” since teenagers, he said, would begin using VPN services to circumvent the restrictions.
He argues that this will result in minors gaining access to “much more dangerous and illegal content.”
Durov also cited the example of Russia, stating that after restrictions on access to Telegram were imposed, users, including teenagers, began using VPNs en masse.
According to the entrepreneur, regulation should remain within the family, as parents already have tools to monitor their children’s digital activity, including parental controls and device usage time limits.
“Instead, many parents simply give their kids iPads just to keep them quiet. No government regulation will fix that,” Durov said.
Durov also questioned the true motives behind government intervention, suggesting that such measures may be linked not only to child protection but also to potential control over civic activism and users’ political statements.
Durov announced this on Telegram.
As a reminder, the Norwegian government plans to introduce a ban on social media use for children under 16. At the same time, the responsibility for verifying users’ ages will fall on tech companies.
The Lithuanian Seimas plans to consider legislative changes that would restrict access to social media for children under 16.
Greece plans to ban access to social media for children under 15. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce this.
