•British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The United Kingdom is weighing the possibility of banning social media use for children under the age of 16 as part of broader efforts to tackle rising concerns over screen time and online safety.
According to reports, the proposal is being considered by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of ongoing consultations on regulating young people’s access to platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
Starmer disclosed that the government is also exploring additional measures, including app curfews, usage time limits, and restrictions on algorithm-driven content feeds, which he said fuel “addictive scrolling” among young users, reports AFP.
“We’re consulting on whether there should be a ban for under-16s. But equally important, the addictive scrolling mechanisms are really problematic, and they need to go,” he said.
The government noted that the initiative aims to better understand the impact of social media on children’s sleep, academic performance, and family relationships, while responding to increasing concerns from parents about unhealthy online habits.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall revealed that the consultation has already attracted tens of thousands of responses, with submissions still open to the public.
“We want to hear from parents, teenagers, and families about their experiences and views on curfews, AI chatbots, and addictive features,” Kendall said.
The development comes amid a growing global push to regulate children’s use of social media. Australia has already enforced a ban for users under 16, while countries such as Greece and Indonesia have introduced similar restrictions.
UK authorities, however, say no final decision has been reached, noting that the outcome of the consultation will guide future policies on youth access to social media and the potential introduction of stricter age limits.
