UK unveils social media, online gaming and broadcasting ban for under 16s – National
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled plans on Monday for a major ban on social media for under-16s across the UK, following several other countries, including Canada, introducing plans to restrict youth access to social media.
“It’s a big step for our country,” Starmer said in a video message sent to X on Monday.
“Social networks make our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as Prime Minister, I can no longer allow that to continue,” he added, while admitting that the ban still exists and will continue to face setbacks and will need to be constantly adjusted to keep up with technological developments.
“Our children deserve better; they deserve a happy, safe childhood in a strong, just Britain,” he continued.
The ban will include platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be included, the UK government said in a news release.
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It will also ban “dangerous activities such as live streaming and communication with strangers and children under the age of 16.”
Starmer said the British government supported its plan in Australia, the first country to implement such a ban.
It was passed into law in December, although its enforcement was spotty. In March, Australia’s eSafety Commission said many children under the age of 16 could still access, or create, accounts on restricted platforms.
The UK policy, which includes measures to limit access to online gaming sites, is designed to reduce the psychological and physical difficulties affecting young people, including sleep deprivation, loss of play and time spent with family and friends, the prime minister noted in his video message, before citing a strong public response in favor of the restrictions.
British government data collected from a survey of more than 116,000 people between March 2 and May 26 found that nine out of 10 parents agreed with a sweeping move to restrict the use of social media by under-16s, the government said.
“I’ve heard firsthand from families crying out for change and we’re going to make good on it,” Starmer said, adding that it’s time for digital platforms to be held accountable for their failure to implement adequate safeguards.
“This is the line in the sand,” he said. “The tech giants took a chance and failed, but we are stepping in to protect children, give back to parents and set the standard for future generations.”
The plans come as Elon Musk’s xAI, which operates chatbot Grok, is facing a landmark lawsuit over claims it made non-consensual pornography and encouraged the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
It also comes days after the Canadian government introduced cyberbullying legislation that will require social media companies to ban children under the age of 16 from their platforms.
Unlike the UK and Australia, the Safe Social Media Act puts the onus on tech giants by requiring social networks and AI chatbot platforms to incorporate age-friendly designs, including content warning labels, child-safe search settings and measures to reduce addictive behaviors such as endless scrolling.
Similar laws have been passed or should be passed in Malaysia, Brazil, France and other nations.
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