Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signalled a dramatic shift in position, revealing that his government is actively considering a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. This marks a significant potential U-turn from his previous opposition to such a measure.
Mounting Pressure for an Australian-Style Ban
The Prime Minister confirmed that all options are on the table following pressure from backbench MPs and the Conservative Party's pledge to implement a ban if they win the next election. The government is looking closely at the model recently adopted by Australia, which last month became the first country to institute a ban on social media for young people.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has added to the calls for decisive action, warning that social media is harming the life chances of young people. He stated that the technology was unleashed without properly understanding the consequences and expressed his firm support for taking steps in this area.
A Parliamentary Showdown Looms
The issue is expected to reach a critical point next week when the House of Lords votes on a Tory amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This amendment seeks to prevent under-16s from accessing social media platforms. If it passes the Lords, a Commons vote would follow, forcing Labour MPs to decide whether to back the ban.
Despite the momentum, the potential policy faces criticism. Charities including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation have warned that a blanket ban is a blunt approach that could have unintended consequences, potentially pushing harmful activity into less regulated spaces online.
Government's Balancing Act
Downing Street has defended its approach to regulating the digital world, citing its recent confrontation with the platform X over its Grok AI system as a vindication of its willingness to challenge big tech. A government spokesman highlighted the existing Online Safety Act as one of the boldest steps taken globally to protect children online.
The spokesman stated: A social media ban is not our current policy but we keep all options under review based on the evidence. We are striking the right balance: protecting children from harm while ensuring they can benefit safely from the digital world. However, with Sir Keir now insisting that further protections are needed, the political battle lines over children's online safety are being firmly drawn.
