Starmer to announce ‘Australia plus’ ban on social media for under-16s | Social media ban
The Guardian understands Keir Starmer will ban under-16s from major social media apps including TikTok, Instagram and X in sweeping restrictions described as “Australia plus”.
Teens will be banned from accessing all major social platforms, and online products that do not fall under the ban, such as gaming apps, will face new restrictions, such as the removal of the option to chat with strangers. There will also be restrictions preventing “swiping” late at night (after 8.30pm) for older youth up to 18 years of age.
Government sources said protecting young people from harmful addictive content such as endless scrolling and contact with strangers were the main drivers of the stringent measures. Those under 18 will also be banned from accessing romantic or sexual AI chatbots. “There are no half measures here,” a government source said.
The government may need to legislate to enforce the ban and give itself flexibility to adapt to new technology; but the Child Welfare and Schools Act already gives ministers some powers.
In Australia, where a ban is currently in place, access to 10 major platforms is restricted for those under the age of 16: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch and Kick. UK government sources have stated that bans on major platforms will also apply to a similar range of apps.
The government on Sunday said nine in 10 parents backed a minimum age of 16 to access apps in responses to its “growing up in the online world” consultation.
Almost nine in 10 (88%) said fewer children would be exposed to inappropriate or harmful content. Almost two-thirds of young respondents said restricting high-risk features would make them safer online.
On Sunday culture secretary Lisa Nandy said restrictions on social media would not be a “magic solution” but would better protect young people.
“I don’t want to get in the way of the Prime Minister’s announcement. But when we launched the consultation it was a question of how do we better protect young people online, not if we do that,” he said.
“And one of the things that a social media ban does and has been shown to do in Australia is that, although it doesn’t stop all young people from going online and getting on social media apps, what it does mean is that you stop the situation of eight, nine, 10, 11-year-olds going to social media sites because all their friends are on the sites at an age where, frankly, they’re not emotionally equipped to deal with that.”
Nandy added: “I don’t think banning social media is the magic solution in itself, but I think it shows very clearly that Australia will play an important role.”
