A new perspective on online safety argues that focusing exclusively on restricting access for under-16s misses the larger issue of inadequate internet safeguards for all users. The narrow approach to protecting young people through age limits fails to address the broader vulnerabilities that affect every demographic online.

This critique comes amid growing regulatory pressure on social media companies to implement stronger protections for minors. Recent legislative efforts in multiple countries have centered on age verification and parental controls, but critics argue these measures create a false sense of security while leaving adults exposed to the same data privacy and security risks. The approach essentially treats internet safety as a youth problem rather than a universal concern.

The debate highlights a fundamental tension in digital policy: whether targeted restrictions for specific groups are more effective than comprehensive reforms that protect everyone. Industry experts suggest that platform-wide safety measures would ultimately benefit all users while avoiding the complexity and enforcement challenges of age-based restrictions. The current focus on under-16s may be politically expedient but fails to address the systemic vulnerabilities that make the internet unsafe for everyone.