The United Kingdom is set to introduce one of its toughest digital safety measures yet, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to announce plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms as concerns grow over the impact of online content on young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
According to reports from British media, the proposed restrictions would mirror measures already adopted in Australia, where platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube and other social networking services are prohibited for users below 16 years of age. The policy is also expected to introduce tighter controls on digital products used by minors, including restrictions on communication features that allow children to interact with strangers online. In addition, users under 18 could be blocked from accessing romantic and sexually themed artificial intelligence chatbots, while measures aimed at reducing excessive late night social media use are also being considered.
The move reflects a growing international push to strengthen child protection online amid increasing concerns about the influence of harmful digital content. Campaigners and child safety advocates have argued that unrestricted social media access exposes young people to risks ranging from cyberbullying and self harm content to manipulation by online predators. The debate gained renewed attention in Britain following calls from the family of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, whose mother has publicly linked some of her daughter’s struggles to harmful material encountered online.
However, the proposed ban is expected to spark debate among technology companies, digital rights groups and privacy advocates. Critics argue that age verification systems can threaten online privacy, are often difficult to enforce effectively and may isolate young people from valuable sources of information and social interaction. While supporters see the policy as a necessary step to improve online safety, opponents maintain that evidence of its long term benefits remains inconclusive, setting the stage for a broader conversation about how governments should regulate children’s access to the digital world.