Next week, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce a new crackdown on children's access to social media, vowing to take "decisive" measures that he says will be a "game-changer". The prime minister's speech comes after months of pressure from opposition parties and dozens of his own MPs, and after the government launched a public consultation in March on banning under-16s from platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. But what exactly is being proposed, how would it work, and what would it mean for families across the UK?
The government is considering several options for restrictions, the most dramatic of which would be a blanket ban on under-16s accessing social media altogether, following the model introduced in Australia in 2024. That would mean platforms would be legally required to prevent anyone under 16 from creating accounts or logging in, with enforcement mechanisms such as age-verification checks. Other options being discussed include exempting certain parts of social media that are deemed less harmful — such as the search and messaging functions — while blocking features like algorithmic feeds, infinite scroll or direct messaging from strangers. Starmer has promised the final policy will be announced "shortly" and has described it as a "game-changer".
“An explainer on the UK's proposed social media restrictions for children, including the Australia-style ban and next steps.”
The push for restrictions did not come out of nowhere. For years, campaigners and child-safety charities have raised alarms about the effects of social media on young people: worsening mental health, exposure to harmful content such as self-harm and eating disorder material, online bullying, and grooming by predators. A 2023 report from the Children's Commissioner found that half of 8-to-17-year-olds had seen content promoting suicide or self-harm. The government's own Online Safety Act, which became law in 2023, placed a duty of care on platforms to protect children, but critics say it has not gone far enough and that enforcement is slow. The Australian ban has given UK politicians a concrete, high-profile alternative to point to. The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have both called for similar legislation, and more than 60 Labour MPs signed a letter urging Starmer to act.
For UK readers, the implications are immediate and personal. If a ban on under-16s is introduced, millions of families would need to adjust to a world where their children cannot legally use Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat until they turn 16. Parents may have to supervise more closely, while schools and youth organisations might need to update their policies on phone use and online safety. Tech companies would face huge compliance costs — and some, like Meta, have already warned that age-verification measures could force them to restrict all users in the UK or share more personal data. There are also civil liberties concerns: privacy groups have argued that mandatory age checks could undermine anonymity and give the state or corporations access to sensitive user information.
Q: When would the new social media restrictions come into force?
No exact date has been set. The prime minister's speech next week will likely outline the government's preferred option and possibly introduce a bill. If a blanket ban is chosen, it would require primary legislation, which could take months to pass — meaning any new rules are unlikely to take effect before 2026 at the earliest.
Q: Would the ban apply to all social media or just some platforms?
The scope is still under discussion. The government is looking at a "blanket ban" covering all social media platforms that under-16s currently use, but also considering exemptions for parts of services deemed less harmful, such as private messaging or educational content. Video-sharing sites like YouTube would almost certainly be included.
Q: How would the ban be enforced?
Enforcement would rely on age-verification technology — for example, requiring users to upload a passport or use facial-age estimation. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines from Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. The Australian model requires platforms to "take reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from having accounts, with fines for systemic failures.
What happens next depends heavily on the political calendar. Next week is already packed: Starmer will attend the G7 summit in France, and the Makerfield by-election — in which Labour's Andy Burnham is hoping to hold a safe seat — takes place on Thursday. Some observers argue the prime minister is using the social media announcement to try to wrest back the agenda from the by-election campaign. But beyond the politics, the government must turn its promise into concrete legislation. The consultation closed last month, and officials are now sifting through responses from tech firms, charities and the public. Starmer has said the measures will be "unflinching" and that lessons must be learned — but he also resisted a ban for months, so the final shape of the policy is not yet certain.