Google UK Leader Warns Against Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Kate Alessi, the managing director and vice-president of Google UK and Ireland, has publicly stated that implementing a blanket ban on social media for children under 16 is not the right approach. In an interview with the Press Association, she cautioned that such prohibitions could inadvertently drive young users toward more dangerous and unsupervised corners of the internet, rather than protecting them.
Government Pressure and Industry Response
This warning comes as the UK government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, faces increasing calls to restrict social media access for minors. Sir Keir has indicated a willingness to take action against features that contribute to addiction among young people, with consultations ongoing regarding a potential outright ban for those under 16. Ms Alessi emphasized that Google, which owns YouTube, does not support blanket bans, arguing they remove parental choices and displace children from monitored environments.
The debate intensifies following a recent landmark court case in the United States, where Meta (owner of Facebook) and Google were found liable for a woman's childhood social media addiction. The companies were ordered to pay $6 million (£4.6 million) in damages, a verdict Ms Alessi confirmed Google disputes and plans to appeal.
Safety Measures and Unintended Consequences
Ms Alessi highlighted that instead of bans, appropriate guardrails are essential for children's online wellbeing. She pointed to YouTube's recent introduction of features designed to mitigate addictive behaviours, including:
- Timers for the Shorts video format
- Customised Bedtime reminders
- Take a break functions to encourage healthy usage habits
We want to make sure our products are built to be as safe as possible, she stated, reaffirming Google's commitment to collaborating with the government on this issue. However, she warned that following Australia's lead—which implemented a world-first social media ban for under-16s in December—could result in unintended consequences for the UK.
New AI Initiative Launched Across UK
Alongside the online safety discussion, Google announced a significant new community programme aimed at boosting artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge and skills nationwide. The initiative, dubbed AI Works for Britain, includes several components:
- Pop-up hubs called Squeeze the Juice bars in Leeds, Liverpool, and Birmingham, as well as in government-designated AI Growth Zones in Oxfordshire, the North East, Wales, and Lanarkshire.
- A university campus tour to educate students on AI applications.
- Nearly £2 million in funding through Google.org to support AI projects by social enterprise group Inco, children's charity Chance, and the Good Things Foundation.
These efforts target practical AI skills, such as automating administrative tasks and using agentic tools for research, with demos and guides on building a social media presence. Ms Alessi explained that the goal is to help Britons squeeze the juice from AI tools, moving beyond basic adoption to achieve real value. Recent research commissioned by Google revealed that only a quarter of AI users feel they gain significant benefits, and just one in ten consider themselves advanced users.
With AI Works for Britain, we'll bring practical AI skills to people in every corner of the UK—from juice bars to Jobcentres—to help them use AI to achieve their goals, she concluded, underscoring the programme's broad reach and practical focus.
