Starmer Plans Under-16 Ban on Harmful Social Media as UK Weighs Wider Child-Safety Curbs
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 8
Starmer Plans Under-16 Ban on Harmful Social Media as UK Weighs Wider Child-Safety Curbs
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 8
Summary
Keir Starmer is set to announce restrictions barring under-16s from “harmful” online platforms while preserving access to some safer social media services.
Australia’s December under-16 ban and meetings with bereaved parents helped drive the move, amid UK concerns over mental health harms and online safety risks.
Downing Street signaled Starmer is willing to confront tech companies, though a source close to the matter said a formal ban is unlikely to be unveiled this week.
More immediate measures could target children creating sexualised images online that can be exploited for sextortion, alongside options such as curfews, time limits and limits on addictive design.
Britain already requires platforms to protect children from illegal and harmful content, while France, Denmark, Poland and Greece are also tightening youth social-media rules.
If Australian teens easily bypassed their social media ban, how will the UK's version be any different or more effective?
Could a ban to protect children's mental health end up harming the most vulnerable youth who rely on online communities?
The UK’s 2026 Social Media Crackdown: What Under-16s, Parents, and Platforms Need to Know
Overview
The UK government is set to announce major new policies restricting children's access to social media, with implementation expected by the end of 2026. Building on existing online safety laws, the new approach will target specific harmful or addictive features—such as personalized algorithms—rather than imposing a blanket ban. This strategy follows advocacy from groups like the Molly Rose Foundation, which calls for strict safety standards and bans on apps that fail to comply. The government also aims to prevent children from sharing or viewing nude images online, signaling a focused effort to enhance digital safety for young people.