UK to ban social media for under-16s, Starmer announces

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the government will ban children under 16 from using social media platforms and will impose restrictions on gaming and livestreaming services. Starmer said a full ban was the right approach, adding that the process would not be easy but that the government had the capacity to stand up to major technology companies. The announcement forms part of a wider overhaul of online regulation aimed at strengthening protections for children in digital spaces. The UK has stepped up pressure on tech firms in recent years over age verification, algorithm oversight and measures to prevent the sharing of sexually explicit images taken on phones by minors. Australia became the first country to enforce an under-16 social media ban, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook in December. Other countries have since begun work on similar restrictions, citing concerns over child health and safety.