When Sir Keir Starmer confirmed his resignation yesterday, reflections over his legacy were quickly pontificated over.
For the UK gambling industry, the Starmer premiership will be remembered as one that triggered a significant transformation, intensifying an already challenging period for many operators.
Whilst tax hikes have stolen most headlines in gambling industry news, a mainstream policy that will define Starmer’s legacy could also have a big impact on the future of gambling engagement.
Starmer cites late policy as a key highlight
During a historic farewell speech from the steps of Downing Street, Starmer namechecked the social media ban for under-16s as one of his key achievements, undeniably a policy that shifts digital behaviour in the UK.
But as the unlicensed gambling sector continues to surge, there are two contrasting consequences of the policy, as youth engagement with digital platforms is forced to evolve.
As speculation over the social media ban originally commenced, I argued that it is vital that any such policy shouldn’t neglect the detrimental impact of streaming sites on a younger audience.
Prohibiting access to mainstream social media platforms, whilst allowing them to retain exposure to streaming sites, could have had a disastrous impact on the way a younger generation consumes online content.
However, Starmer confirmed the all-encompassing nature of the social media ban, not only including a myriad of social media sites, but also streaming platforms.
Kick, Reddit, Twitch and even YouTube were included in the ban, which goes a significant step further than the Australian policy it was modelled on.
The ban draws a clear battle line between the policymakers and social media giants, only adding to a conflict that has become increasingly intense as licensed operators rally against unlicensed and illegal activity targeting the UK.
Starmer stated: “We’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.
“This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”
Further intensifying the ban, it also prohibited under-16s from engaging with social media platforms after a certain time, triggering criticism from some commentators, who raised concerns about the level of control the government was asserting.
Yet Starmer is standing by the ban as a standout achievement in his reign that has otherwise been plagued by challenges.
His own adulation for the policy isn’t isolated to self-congratulations, as praise has been affirmed by many on opposition benches.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as ‘fantastic news’, welcoming the move by the government.
As UK gambling battles against the black market, it has also been welcomed as a tool to cut off exposure of a younger generation to operators.
BetBlocker Founder, Duncan Garvie, told iGaming Expert: “The social media ban is coming from a place of positive intentions. The advancements in technology that we’ve seen in the last couple of decades have brought huge benefits to society.
“But there’s no question that there have been undesirable consequences with them, and the impact of social media – especially on the young – is one of the most pronounced impacts that we need to adapt to.”
Labour must fine-tune social media ban after Starmer
That being said, there is a potential unintended consequence of the ban – which threatens a bleak outcome.
There will likely be a portion of those now facing significant restrictions on their online consumption that don’t take the ban lying down.
Some may start using VPNs and web proxies – potentially normalising a technology that provides an efficient pathway to unlicensed operators, although the financial costs of VPN use could deter some from doing so.
Garvie added: “While I applaud the positive intent, the barriers to circumvent this restriction are not high, and with very tech-literate generations coming through, I remain sceptical that this policy will deliver real positive outcomes as opposed to headlines.”
The government, although in the midst of a transition, has outlined its vigilance to this threat, as the eyes of the industry watch on and await further policies to safeguard against this risk.
A government update stated: “We are aware of concerns that children may attempt to circumvent age checks, including through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). That is why we have commissioned research to better understand how children are using VPNs and the risks involved.
“We want to assess this evidence to ensure any decisions we take are proportionate and evidence-based, recognising both the need to protect children and the legitimate uses of VPNs, such as for privacy or freedom of speech purposes. We will provide an update on this in July.”
Starmer has taken steps to ensure that one of the major departing policies has a positive impact on society and the youth of today. However, the jury remains out and history will be the harshest critic of a policy that has stolen headlines during his final chapter in office.
The danger of increasing traffic to the black market remains prevalent, but if the policy can be accompanied by effective safeguards against the usage of VPNs, it could age well for a government that is desperate to cling to positives.
As the ban takes hold, there will be a natural evolution among the younger generation to a more sophisticated way of using social media. The government needs to find an effective obstacle in this evolution to ensure that the ban is effective and safety is elevated for this generation.
