British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce restrictions on children’s access to online platforms deemed harmful, while allowing those under 16 to continue using safer forms of social media.
Starmer is said to have decided to proceed with the restrictions after meeting parents whose children died in incidents linked to online harms and reviewing evidence from Australia, which introduced a similar ban for under-16s last December.
Asked about the report on Monday, a Downing Street source said: “The prime minister is not afraid of taking on tech companies and their bosses to protect young people.”
A source close to the matter said a formal ban is unlikely to be announced this week. However, the government could more immediately outline measures aimed at preventing children from creating sexualised images online that may be used for sextortion.
Concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and online safety prompted Britain to hold a consultation earlier this year on children’s access to social media. Proposals under consideration include curfews, time limits, and restrictions on addictive design features.
Other countries are also moving in a similar direction. France, Denmark and Poland are considering tighter rules on children’s social media use, while Greece announced in April that it will ban access for under-15s from January 2027.
Britain’s Online Safety Act already requires social media companies to take steps to protect children from illegal and harmful content.
However, experts remain divided on how effective a total ban would be, while some young people in London recently told Reuters they opposed the idea of stricter restrictions.