LONDON: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban social media platforms for children under 16 and to introduce restrictions on gaming and livestreaming services. These measures represent some of the most extensive online regulations proposed globally to date.
On Monday, Starmer emphasized that the government intends to implement comprehensive reforms to social media oversight to better safeguard children’s mental health and online safety.
He stated, “It’s evident that a complete ban is the appropriate course of action,” acknowledging that while the move will face challenges, the government must take a stand against the influence of major tech corporations.
In recent years, the UK has adopted a stricter stance towards technology companies, urging or compelling them to enforce age verification, modify algorithms, and prevent children from sharing nude images taken on mobile devices.
Starmer’s decision to push further comes after discussions with parents and an examination of international models, notably Australia, which introduced a ban on social media for under-16s last year.
The Australian government was the first to restrict children’s access to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook in December, citing concerns over young people’s mental health and safety.
Since then, numerous countries have indicated their intent to regulate social media access for minors amid increasing worries about the platforms’ effects on youth well-being.
In the UK, consultations involved teachers, parents, and young people, exploring potential measures such as a ban on under-16s, curfews, app time restrictions, and restrictions on addictive features embedded in platforms.
Over 116,000 responses were received from various stakeholders, revealing that more than 83% of parents believed the risks of social media outweighed its benefits, and 90% supported a minimum age of 16 for access.
While many adults and policymakers support the ban, some psychologists and researchers have questioned its effectiveness, and a group of London schoolchildren shared with Reuters that their relationship with social media is complex and conflicted.
