UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce new restrictions on social media use by under-16s within days, aiming to curb children’s exposure to online harms [1]. The government has pressed tech firms to block children from sharing nude images on phones, issuing a formal ultimatum in June [2].
While Starmer’s forthcoming policy will involve radical regulation, officials indicate it may stop short of a full blanket ban on under-16s accessing social media platforms [2]. However, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that a full ban remains among the options under consideration, alongside potentially restricting key social media features for younger users [1].
Public backing for stronger controls is high: 90% of parents who responded to the government consultation favored a ban on social media access for children under 16 [1]. This overwhelming support has bolstered calls for decisive action.
The timeline of events shows the government's approach evolving rapidly. On June 8, authorities demanded tech companies block children from sharing explicit images over phones [2]. Around the same time, the consultation revealed strong parental support for restricting youth social media use [1]. Within days, reports emerged that Starmer was preparing formal announcements on the issue [2, 1].
The final form of the new rules remains to be announced, but the government plans to limit risks to children online through either a ban or substantial feature restrictions. Starmer’s social media policy announcement is expected within the next week [1].
