A schoolgirl has gone viral for her deadpan response to the newly-announced social media ban for under-16s in the UK. On Monday (15 June), Sir Keir Starmer revealed that sites including TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit will require users to be aged 16 and above. In a BBC news segment following the announcement, journalist Fiona Lamdin spoke to students live from a secondary school in Tarelton, Lancashire. Pupil Isabella expressed her disappointment over the ban, revealing that her screentime over the last weekend was nine hours. “Suddenly you’re going to have a lot more time to fill, what will you do?” asked Lamdin. “Stare at a wall,” she said with a straight-face.

Under-16s to be banned from a long list of social media sites, with restrictions on gaming also in the pipeline.

The U.K. plans to ban children under 16 from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other social platforms, marking one of the world's toughest crackdowns on teen social media use.

There may even be a online curfew for under-18s too.