The United Kingdom has announced a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing the move as a necessary step to protect young people from the harmful effects of excessive online engagement.
In a video message shared on X on Monday, Starmer said the decision followed extensive consultations with parents and was aimed at addressing growing concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and overall well-being.
He said thousands of parents had expressed concerns that their children were becoming addicted to social media, spending excessive amounts of time scrolling through online platforms at the expense of sleep, family interactions and outdoor activities.
According to Starmer, the government carefully examined available evidence and studied measures adopted by other countries before arriving at the decision.
Calling it a major step for the country, the Prime Minister said the government was prepared to face resistance from large technology companies but would proceed in the interest of children’s welfare.
“Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe. Our children deserve better. They deserve a happy, safe childhood in a stronger, fairer Britain,” Starmer said.
The United Kingdom joins a growing number of countries taking steps to regulate social media use among minors. Australia implemented a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16 last year, while France is pursuing legislation to prohibit social media use for children below 15 years of age.
Japan has also recently proposed stricter age-verification measures and greater responsibilities for social media operators to enhance online safety for children. Similar discussions are underway in countries including Spain and Denmark.
-ANI
