UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to announce a ban on social media use for children under 16, according to reports from The Guardian, Financial Times and Reuters. The plan follows Australia and could also affect gaming apps, AI chatbots and late night app use.
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Starmer now appears ready to back a stricter online safety policy after months of debate over children, social media and age checks. Reports say the UK plan will cover a similar list of services to Australia, where TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch and Kick face under 16 restrictions.
The Guardian described the plan as an “Australia plus” model. Reuters also reported that Britain will likely set out under 16 social media restrictions, with child safety and mental health concerns at the center of the debate.
Gaming platforms sit in a different bucket. They would not face an outright ban, based on the reported plan. However, products used by children may need to cut features such as chat with strangers. That detail matters for online gaming, esports communities and social casino style platforms, where chat, live content and user accounts often sit close together.
The UK plan goes beyond a simple age gate. Users under 18 would also lose access to romantic and sexual AI chatbots. Ministers also want to reduce late night scrolling, a feature often tied to endless feeds, autoplay and algorithmic content loops.
Supporters say younger users need stronger protection from harmful content and contact with strangers. The mother of murdered teen Brianna Ghey has called for a teen social media ban in the UK and said harmful online content “significantly exacerbated” her daughter eating disorder and self harming behavior.
However, critics warn that age checks can hurt privacy and anonymity. They also say bans may push teenagers toward less regulated apps, fake accounts or VPN use. Australia has already faced similar enforcement questions, so UK regulators will likely need more than a headline ban.