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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Jamie Grierson

Anger from campaigners as WhatsApp lowers age limit to 13 in UK and EU

WhatsApp United Kingdom European Union Meta Instagram
Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp icons on a phone screen
WhatsApp said the change was bringing the age limit in line with the majority of countries and that protections were in place. Photograph: Michele Ursi/Alamy

Campaigners have reacted with anger to the social media company Meta lowering the minimum age for WhatsApp users from 16 to 13 in the UK and EU.

The change was announced in February and came into force on Wednesday. The campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood said the move “flies in the face of the growing national demand for big tech to do more to protect our children”.

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