British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce a total ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, citing concerns over child safety and mental health impacts.

Starmer said on Monday that social media platforms are “making children unhappy” and exposing them to harmful and addictive content. He said the government will move to formally prohibit access for all users under 16.

The proposed restriction will affect major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, though messaging services such as WhatsApp are expected to be exempt.

According to the Prime Minister, the legislation is expected to be passed by December, with implementation targeted for spring next year.

The UK government also indicated plans to take what it described as “world-leading action” on gaming platforms and live-streaming services, particularly those that allow interaction between children and strangers.

Officials said additional measures under consideration include overnight usage curfews and restrictions on infinite scrolling features for users under 18. Further details are expected in July.

Starmer said the move was informed by international developments, including Australia’s decision in December to become the first country to ban social media access for users under 16.

The announcement followed a government-led consultation involving teenagers, during which participants tested social media restrictions and time-limit tools on various apps.

Reacting to the proposal, a YouTube spokesperson warned that a blanket ban could push children toward “less safe services.”

Starmer also raised concerns about online gaming and live-streaming platforms, saying stronger safeguards were needed to prevent contact between children and strangers online.

He compared the situation to offline safety norms, arguing that children would not ordinarily be allowed to interact freely with unknown adults in physical spaces.

Canada has also introduced similar measures, with its culture minister recently presenting legislation aimed at restricting social media access for under-16s and tightening controls on AI chatbot content.

The proposed Digital Safety Act positions Canada among a growing number of countries implementing stricter regulations on children’s use of social media, alongside Indonesia, which began enforcing similar restrictions in March, as well as several European nations exploring comparable policies.

AFP

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