Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce sweeping reforms to protect children online, including a social media ban for under-16s, in a major press conference on Monday.
Key Measures Expected
The anticipated plans go further than Australia's approach, including restrictions on AI chatbots and a curfew for older teenagers to curb late-night scrolling. Platforms affected are expected to include TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit.
Government's Stance
Downing Street described the measures as 'world-leading action' and a 'line in the sand' to protect future generations from online harm. Starmer stated, 'We will call time on a system that's failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life.'
Consultation Results
A government consultation on the issue received about 116,000 responses, the second-largest in history. Over 83% of parents said social media risks outweigh benefits, and 90% backed a minimum age of 16. Almost two-thirds of children supported restricting high-risk features, though 72% worried about feeling left out.
Political Context
The announcement comes amid a difficult period for Starmer's premiership, following Labour's poor performance in local elections and recent ministerial resignations. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott criticized the timing, saying it's 'shameful' that action only came when Starmer's job was on the line.
Lord Nash, a former Tory education minister, welcomed the move, calling it an opportunity to 'end tech companies' uncontrolled experiment with children's safety.' However, Labour MP Feryal Clark cautioned against cutting off access to educational content, urging a distinction between social media and high-quality creator-led resources.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized that a ban alone is not a 'silver bullet' but should be part of a broader set of measures, noting that the consultation showed overwhelming public support for action.
