The British government will introduce measures to ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, after weeks that saw the nation debate how it would introduce new protections for children online.
He said the government planned to pass new regulations in Parliament before Christmas and bring a ban into force in the early part of 2027, saying, “The safety of our children must come first.” The measures will also include restrictions on gaming platforms and livestreaming apps.
“I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen,” Mr. Starmer said at a news conference in Downing Street.
The government has faced growing pressure to act on the issue, as public opinion has coalesced around the idea that more should be done to keep children safe online. One YouGov poll in December found that 74 percent of Britons surveyed supported a ban on social media for children under 16, as awareness about potential harms has grown.
Mr. Starmer acknowledged that the ban might not be perfect and would not be cost-free, but he added, “Government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.”
In March, the government opened a consultation that drew more than 116,000 responses from parents, young people, industry groups and experts who weighed in.
The government said that 90 percent of parents who responded backed a minimum age of 16 for access to social media, and 85 percent said the risks of social media outweighed the benefits.
Not all parents are in favor of a ban, and some experts have pointed out that most young people with social media accounts in Australia, where a ban was introduced in December, have continued to access the platforms. Mr. Starmer acknowledged that the new legislation would not mean that no child ever logs on to social media again, but he said that the potential circumvention of the law was not a good enough reason not to introduce restrictions.
“They get around other laws, too, but we don’t say, ‘Oh, look, a teenager managed to get a drink somehow, so let’s not bother banning alcohol sales to children,’” he said. “We don’t do that, that would be utterly ridiculous, and so I just don’t accept that argument.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
