U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, according to multiple reports.
This would add the UK to a growing list of countries banning social media for underage users, but what sets the UK apart is that it is also looking to restrict romantic and sexual AI chatbots for users under 18.
The government had earlier said it was studying possible options for such a ban. However, the Guardian and the Financial Times have now reported that Starmer is ready to unveil the policy in a speech on Monday.
Government sources told the Guardian that the U.K. ban would cover a similar range of platforms as Australia’s under-16 social media ban.
In Australia, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch, and Kick are banned for users under 16.
Other products, including gaming apps, would not face a complete ban. However, they would have to remove certain features for younger users, such as the ability to chat with strangers. It would also seek to prevent late-night scrolling.
The Guardian reported that the government can use existing regulatory powers to enforce some parts of the ban.
However, new legislation may also be needed to fully introduce the policy.
The U.K. is among several countries looking at child social media bans after Australia introduced similar restrictions.
The country has already passed an age verification law, which was also presented as a measure to improve children’s online safety.
The move comes amid growing debate over the impact of social media on children and teenagers.
The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has called for a teen social media ban in the U.K. She said her daughter’s eating disorder and self-harming behavior were “significantly exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online.”
The proposed bans have also faced criticism.
Critics argue that such measures could violate user privacy, isolate children, and offer unproven mental health benefits.
Age verification laws, which have already taken effect in multiple U.S. states, have also been criticised for threatening online privacy and anonymity.
The verification methods used for such laws have also been described as unreliable.