Keir Starmer expected to announce ban on social media for under-16s
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to impose a ban on social media use for under-16s as part of a broader government initiative aimed at addressing mental health concerns among young people, reports BritPanorama.
The UK government is currently consulting on a range of proposals to restrict children’s access to social media platforms. This comes amid warnings that excessive use, referred to as “doom scrolling,” is contributing to a mental health crisis among Britain’s youth.
Sources close to Downing Street have indicated that policy chiefs anticipate a full ban on social media for children under 16 years old. It’s expected that this announcement will coincide with plans for increased investment in youth sports.
One Whitehall insider stated, “The expectation is he goes with the full ban now.” Another source added, “It is a policy which is free and actually popular. So if the PM is thinking of a legacy announcement, this would be one he can actually get past the backbenches.”
The final decision regarding the ban will be made after the consultation process officially concludes on Tuesday. The Conservative Party has advocated for the restrictions for some time, reflecting a growing consensus around the risks of social media exposure for young people.
The Education Select Committee of MPs has also supported the call for a ban, urging that action must be taken before it is too late. While no official decision has been made yet, Sir Keir has repeatedly emphasized his intention to implement measures that curtail social media usage among minors.
In a recent interview, he remarked, “We’ll go through the consultation, but I think I’ll be absolutely clear, things will not stay as they are. This is going to change. I don’t think the next generation would forgive us if we didn’t act now.”
Meanwhile, Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan is visiting Australia this week, marking the country as the first globally to enforce a social media ban for under-16s.
The discussion around social media restrictions highlights an urgent societal issue regarding child safety and mental health in the digital age.
