LIVE: Prime Minister announces sweeping social media ban for under-16s in 'big moment for our country'
Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer said it was clear to him that “a full ban is the right choice”.
The Prime Minister has announced a sweeping ban on social media for under-16s in a news conference at Downing Street.
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Sir Keir Starmer called it a "big moment for our country" during his speech announcing the ban.
In a statement last night, he vowed to "call time on a system that's failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life".
TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram are among the apps included in the ban which will take effect in Spring 2027.
A consultation, which was conducted this year and had more than 116,000 participants, revealed that 85% of parents believe the risk of social media outweigh any benefits.
However, some are worried children could get around the ban and still be at risk.
Back in December, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a similar ban last year.
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Sir Keir Starmer has announced a major crackdown on children’s use of social media at a news conference in Downing Street.
- Under-16s will be banned from the main social media platforms
- Children will also be blocked from chatting with strangers on platforms not covered by the ban, including some gaming apps
- The ban is expected to come into force early next year, likely in the spring
- Children will not be punished if they get around the ban - the responsibility will fall on the platforms to enforce it
- Starmer said the move is not about restricting free speech, but about protecting children
That’s all from us on today’s live coverage of the Government’s announcement that under-16s are to be banned from the main social media platforms.
Pupils to be taught about social media and AI in classrooms
Every pupil in England will learn about social media in the classroom, including AI, Liz Kendall has said.
Addressing the Commons, the Technology Secretary said: “Many schools are already doing this, but from September this year, every pupil across England will learn about social media in the classroom, including about AI and how to spot deep fakes.
“My department has also produced new advice for parents on how to talk to children about the online world, called ‘You Won’t Know If You Don’t Want Ask’.
“So, schools and parents together, preparing children for the future.”
Ms Kendall also said she has spoken with Ofcom, asking for an urgent review of whether they have the “right capabilities in place” to protect children from less-regulated sites.
“I have also asked them to publish a clear enforcement strategy and an annual report to Parliament on how this strategy is progressing,” she said.
Technology Secretary pledges to 'put power back into parents’ hands'
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said a ban on social media for under-16s could come into effect in “early 2027” as she pledged to “put power back into parents’ hands”.
In a statement to the Commons, Ms Kendall said: “Overwhelmingly, our consultation shows parents and children are concerned about what they’re being exposed to online: harmful content, content that’s completely inappropriate for their age, abuse and exploitation.
“They’re worried about the impact on sleep, school, children’s physical health and their emotional wellbeing too. Above all, parents are crying out for change.
“Nine out of 10 parents who responded to the consultation told us they want an outright ban on social media, as did three-quarters in our large-scale representative survey, and 113,000 parents who signed Daisy and Joe’s smartphone-free childhood petition.”
Ms Kendall continued: “My intention is to lay regulations on a ban and have a vote on it by the end of this year. With the ban coming into effect early 2027.”
Technology secretary to speak in the Commons
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall will begin speaking in the House of Commons shortly about the social media ban for under-16s.
Her statement is expected to set out further details of the ban, after Sir Keir Starmer announced the landmark decision earlier this morning.
Will all adults have to prove their age to use social media platforms that become age-restricted?
Many adults won’t need to do checks because they’ve already got an account that:
- has been open more than 16 years
- has a credit card connected to it
- or is linked to an email address that’s age-verified in other ways
Some adults will have already done age verification checks under the existing Online Safety Act, so wouldn’t need to do them again.
And if not, it could be as simple as a facial recognition check for over-18s.
How could the social media ban be enforced?
The new ban is likely to build on the age-checking systems already used under the Online Safety Act, which is regulated by Ofcom.
Those existing rules are designed to stop under-18s accessing pornography and other harmful material, using what the law describes as “highly effective age assurance”.
That can include methods such as facial age estimation, bank details, email-based age checks and, in some cases, digital ID.
Ofcom is now expected to carry out a rapid study into how age verification should work under the new rules, with an assessment due by October.
The government says it wants to make it much harder for children to get around the restrictions, after Australia’s online safety regulator said many under-16s there had still managed to keep accounts, open new ones or bypass checks.
Exactly how the system will work is likely to be one of the most contentious parts of the policy.