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Social Media

Brickbat: Trust, We Swear

Charles Oliver | 7.6.2026 4:00 AM

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A cell phone with the icons for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, and WhatsApp on the home screen. Big Ben and the British flag are in the background. | Illustration: Tomas Marek/Dreamstime/Elisa Schu/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom
(Illustration: Tomas Marek/Dreamstime/Elisa Schu/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom)

The British government plans to make social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok show more content from what it calls "trusted" news sources, such as the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, in users' feeds and search results. U.K. culture minister Lisa Nandy said this would help people find accurate news and fight the spread of lies and misinformation online. The proposal came just days after the government announced plans to ban most social media use for children under 16. Social media firms may push back, saying the rules could limit user choice and hurt other creators. The proposal is part of a larger plan to help traditional public broadcasters compete better in the streaming age.

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NEXT: America Was Not Founded by 'Tariff Men,' Contrary to This Painting in Trump's White House

Charles Oliver is a contributing editor at Reason.

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  1. SCOTUS gave JeffSarc a big sad   1 day ago

    The British people should overthrow their communist government, then deport all the rapefugees.

    (First, but not Fist))

    Log in to Reply
    1. Vernon Depner   1 day ago

      It's too late. Britain is gone.

      Log in to Reply
  2. Fist of Etiquette   1 day ago

    Are they going to force their Limeys to not look out their windows next?

    Log in to Reply
    1. Vernon Depner   1 day ago

      We need common-sense window control.

      Log in to Reply
    2. Stupid Government Tricks   1 day ago

      Bring back the window tax!

      Log in to Reply
    3. mad.casual   18 hours ago

      Option A - Lie back.
      Option B - Think of England.
      Pick one.

      Log in to Reply
      1. Vernon Depner   11 hours ago

        Lie back and think of Pakistan.

        Log in to Reply
  3. Jerry B.   22 hours ago

    But the First Amend...

    Oh. Right.

    Log in to Reply
  4. Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)   22 hours ago

    Just put the ministry of truth in charge.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Its_Not_Inevitable   18 hours ago

      The past was alterable. The past never had been altered. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia. George Orwell, 1984.

      Log in to Reply
  5. Get To Da Chippah   21 hours ago

    All those sites can instead choose not to operate in the UK, and explain why. Let the politicians deal with that fallout.

    Log in to Reply
  6. SMP0328   20 hours ago

    The British government continues to show that line about the country having an "unwritten constitution" was always a lie. Tradition and historical documents (e.g., Magna Carta) are no substitute for a constitution which limits the government's authority. Instead, the British have Parliamentary Supremacy. This means the British Parliament can enact any law in wants, regardless of whatever rights the British People think they have.

    The British People should demand a popularly elected constitutional convention be formed so they can finally a constitution that would be the supreme law of the land, rather than Parliament being supreme. Such a constitution would also a bill/declaration of rights. This doesn't necessarily mean abolishing the monarchy. The monarchy could simply be one the articles of the new constitution.

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    1. KiwiDude   10 hours ago

      Tell me how many of the Bill of Rights from your constitution, the supreme law of the land, are still valid?

      Log in to Reply
  7. See.More   14 hours ago

    U.K. culture minister Lisa Nandy said this would help people find accurate news and fight the spread of lies and misinformation government approved narratives online.

    Fixed it for her.

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