British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would ban social media sites for under-16s and impose restrictions on gaming and live streaming platforms, in the most far-reaching online restrictions to date in the world.
Starmer said on Monday he would make sweeping changes to social media regulations to better protect the welfare of children when they are online.
“It is clear to me that a total ban is the right choice,” he said, adding that while it would not be easy, the government had the ability to stand up to the power of big tech companies.
Britain has increasingly toughened its approach to tech companies in recent years, urging or forcing them to impose age verification, adapt their algorithms and, most recently, block children from distributing nude images taken on mobile phones.
But with growing awareness of the mental health risks posed by children spending too much time online, Starmer decided to go further after speaking to parents and reviewing evidence from Australia, which last year banned under-16s.
Starmer, who is likely to face a leadership challenge in the coming weeks, said people were rightly waiting for action.
Australia leads the way
Australia was the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them in December on platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.
Since then, many countries have said they are seeking to regulate access to social media, amid growing concerns about its impact on children’s health and safety.
Britain has consulted teachers, parents and young people on new restrictions, including a possible ban on under-16s, as well as curfews, limits on how long apps can be used and curbs on what the government has described as addictive design features.
It received more than 116,000 responses from parents, industry and young people. More than 83% of responding parents said the risks of social media outweigh the benefits, while 90% supported a minimum age of 16 for accessing social media platforms.
While many parents and politicians support a ban, some psychologists and researchers have said there is no evidence it would work, and a group of London schoolchildren told Reuters they have a conflicted relationship with the technology.
