LONDON: Children under the age of 16 will no longer be allowed to use social media platforms in Britain under a new government proposal announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, who argued that such platforms were making young people “unhappy”.
The move has received support from several children’s charities, though some organisations warned that restricting access could create new online safety risks for teenagers.
Starmer said social media platforms expose young users to material that is “dangerous” and “designed to be addictive”.
According to the government, the proposed ban will cover major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, while messaging services such as WhatsApp will remain unaffected.
The British prime minister said the policy was inspired in part by Australia’s approach, which became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16 last year.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Starmer said he aims to secure parliamentary approval for the legislation by the end of December, with implementation expected in spring next year.
He indicated that platforms designed specifically for children and education, including YouTube Kids, Lego Play and Google Classroom, are unlikely to be included in the restrictions.
The government also announced that it is exploring additional measures, such as overnight social media curfews for minors and limits on infinite scrolling features. Further details are expected next month.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Britain’s decision, writing on X: “Social media giants operate across borders. By standing together, we can do more to hold them accountable and keep children safe online.”
Britain joins a growing number of countries considering stricter controls on children’s access to social media. Canada and France are examining similar measures, while Indonesia began enforcing its own ban on users under 16 in March.
