Keir Starmer has announced a ban on social media for under-16s, arguing that platforms are harming children’s wellbeing and fuelling a generation of unhealthy online habits.

Speaking at Downing Street, the Prime Minister said social media was making children “unhappy”, making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse young people and potentially damaging their mental health.

The move follows one of the largest public consultations in recent government history, with more than 116,000 responses submitted and around nine in 10 parents backing a minimum age of 16 for social media access.

The ban will encompass platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X and Facebook, with full details due later today.

Australia-plus approach

The measures are expected to go further than Australia’s landmark social media restrictions, extending safeguards to gaming platforms and AI-powered services used by children.

Ministers are understood to be examining restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling, late-night usage by older teenagers, communication with strangers through gaming platforms and access to certain AI chatbots.

“This is not something I do lightly,” Starmer said. “But government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a total ban is the right choice.”

The policy marks one of the most significant interventions in Britain’s digital economy since the Online Safety Act and intensifies pressure on technology firms to take greater responsibility for younger users.

The government believes age-verification systems developed under the Online Safety Act will help enforce the measures, with ministers expected to set out implementation plans later today.

This is a developing story. More to follow