London:
In a video message posted on X, Starmer said thousands of parents had raised concerns that children were becoming trapped in a cycle of “endless scrolling”, affecting their sleep, play, family time and mental well-being.
“Parents need our support on this. That is why today the government has decided to ban social media access for children under 16,” he said.
Calling the decision “a big step” for the country, Starmer said the government had studied the evidence carefully and drawn lessons from other nations taking similar measures.
He acknowledged that the move would face resistance from powerful technology companies, but said the government was prepared to confront them.
“Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe,” Starmer said, adding that children deserved “a happy, safe childhood in a stronger, fairer Britain”.
The UK now joins a growing list of countries considering or enforcing tougher rules on social media use by minors.
Earlier this month, a government panel in Japan recommended stricter age verification and tighter controls on certain features to protect underage users. France is seeking to fast-track a ban on social media use for children under 15, while Australia implemented a blanket ban for children under 16 last year. Spain and Denmark are also considering similar restrictions.