UK social media ban will push teens to VPNs, illegal content – Telegram CEO

By Adegboyega Adeleye
Telegram founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, has criticised the United Kingdom’s planned ban on social media access for children under 16, arguing that such restrictions could expose teenagers to greater risks online rather than protect them.
Durov made the remarks in a series of posts on his X account after the UK government announced plans to block under-16s from accessing major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and X, as part of new child online safety measures expected to take effect in 2027.
Reacting to the policy, Durov said banning social media for teenagers would simply drive them towards virtual private networks...