UK will ban social media access for under-16s, Starmer confirms

Keir Starmer has confirmed that the government will ban social media for under-16s. 

In a Downing Street press conference, the prime minister said the Australia-style ban is "not something I do lightly" and will not be "cost-free".

However, he added: "I will not be prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children."

Starmer said he would now "move at speed" to introduce the necessary legislation with the aim of the ban coming into effect "in the early part of next year".

While he was believed to be sceptical about hardline measures like Australia's ban initially, he told reporters this morning that he had reached this decision "having looked at the evidence, having gone through the consultation, having looked at what happened in other countries, having listened to parents, listened hard".

The proposals will include restrictions on specific platforms for under-16s, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, but also restrictions on gaming services, live streaming platforms, and stranger communication.

Children will not be banned from accessing messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal. 

The government is also expected to make further announcements about night-time social media curfews for 16-and 17-year-olds in the coming weeks.

Speaking this morning, the PM said he did not accept the argument that an under-16 social media ban is not worthwhile because some children will get around it, saying it would be like opposing drinking laws because underage people sometimes drink alcohol.

"This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong, but government is always about choices, and it's clear to me that a full ban is the right choice," Starmer said.

"Social media is making children unhappy. It's making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that is what grabs the attention. It is designed to be addictive."

Starmer said that the Online Safety Act meant the government had an understanding of how to apply age verification, and powers introduced under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act will allow them to "now move at pace", and "adapt as technology changes".

This story first appeared on our sister website, Politics Home.