(June 15): Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced what he described as a “full ban” on children using social media, one of the strictest online crackdowns in the democratic world and going beyond limits imposed by Australia last year.
“Today I can announce the government will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16,” Starmer said in a press briefing on Monday morning. “I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children. That is why this ban must happen and it is why this ban will happen.”
The premier confirmed under-16s would be prevented from using all major social media platforms, as well as other measures including what he called “world-leading action” to prevent children from speaking to strangers on gaming services and live-streaming platforms without supervision.
The Labour government says its new range of restrictions will be tougher than Australia’s limits. Legislation will be passed by the end of the year and the ban will be implemented in spring 2027, Starmer said. Age verification technology will be used to enforce the restrictions. There will be exemptions for some content, including YouTube Kids and Google Classroom.
“This is not something I do lightly and I will not present it as cost-free,” he added. He warned that social media is “designed to be addictive,” criticising “features like infinite scroll” which he said “stops children doing their homework, reading, playing with friends outside and going to bed at a decent time.”
Asked if he was worried President Donald Trump and US technology companies would be critical of the policy, Starmer said pursuing advances in tech and artificial technology and protecting children online were not incompatible. “This is about fighting for what we think is right. I’m a fan of tech and AI,” he said.
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Starmer’s announcement begins a crucial week for his premiership. He heads to the Group of Seven summit at Évian-les-Bains, France on Monday, where he faces awkward questions following last week’s resignation of his defence secretary and uncertainty around the UK’s military budget.
Starmer was criticised at the weekend by the father of a teenage girl who took her life in 2017 after being exposed to harmful online content. Ian Russell told the BBC it would be “deplorable” if the prime minister had rushed out the ban as part of a policy blitz before he faces a likely leadership challenge.
A public consultation on how to protect young people closed less than three weeks ago and some of Starmer’s cabinet colleagues believe the government’s decision to go with a full social media ban for U16s was rushed ahead of Thursday’s by-election, according to a person familiar with the situation.
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The opposition Liberal Democrats accused the Labour leadership of “rushing through a half-baked policy just to secure a political legacy.”
Starmer’s primary rival Andy Burnham is expected to win a parliamentary seat at Thursday’s special election in Makerfield, northwest England. If Burnham defeats Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party, he is likely to challenge Starmer, raising the prospect of a summer contest for the keys to No 10 Downing Street.
Starmer’s team is trying to regroup following the resignations of secretary of state John Healey, junior defence minister Al Carns and two ministerial aides last week. Healey said Starmer had failed to secure enough of a spending boost for the military, in light of heightened threats from Russia and other adversaries.
However, Lisa Nandy, the UK’s culture secretary, said on Sunday that the government had “not finished” trying to find savings from other departments in order to bulk up Britain’s defences.
“Negotiation is happening as we speak,” Nandy told the BBC, suggesting that Starmer had decided to look for more money. A larger budget increase would help Starmer meet promises he made to Britain’s allies, but — coming after Healey’s resignation — risks exposing the premier to accusations of another U-turn.
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