UK Government to Ban Under-16s from 'High-Risk' Social Media Apps
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce a ban on under-16s accessing 'high-risk' social media apps, along with restrictions on features like disappearing messages and livestreaming for under-18s. The announcement follows a government consultation that received over 116,000 responses, with nine in ten parents supporting a ban. However, online safety advocates warn the policy may be unenforceable and insufficiently evidence-based.
Keir Starmer is expected to announce sweeping restrictions on children's social media use, including a ban on under-16s accessing platforms deemed 'high-risk' and prohibiting under-18s from using romantic or sexual AI chatbots. Safer platforms would still face restrictions, barring under-16s from disappearing messages, chats with adult strangers, and livestreaming. The policy follows a consultation that closed on 2 June and received 116,211 responses, with strong parental support. The UK's approach mirrors Australia's January 2024 ban, though critics note that Australian data already shows limited effectiveness — a March report by its eSafety Commission found seven in ten parents said their children were still using banned platforms. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation — established in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who died by suicide in 2017 after exposure to harmful online content — argued the government should instead focus on banning addictive features such as autoplay, infinite scroll, and harmful algorithms. Legal experts have flagged the risk of judicial review, particularly over the government's decision to ban some platforms but not others, though they note the legal threshold for a successful challenge remains high.
What's missing
Neither source specifies which platforms will be classified as 'high-risk' versus 'safe,' nor details the age-verification mechanisms that would underpin enforcement — both of which are central to whether the policy can function in practice.
How coverage differed
The Guardian framed the announcement largely from the government's perspective, emphasising political momentum and parental support while treating enforcement concerns as secondary. The BBC led with the enforceability critique from the Molly Rose Foundation, foregrounding expert scepticism and presenting the policy as potentially rushed and evidence-light.
What different sources said
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Social media ban unenforceable, online safety charity warns
UK to ban under-16s from ‘high risk’ social media apps
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