UK Prime Minister considers social media ban for children under 16

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce a ban on the use of social media by children in the United Kingdom as part of an effort to strengthen his position within the Labour Party, according to reports by The Times citing several sources.

A YouGov poll conducted in mid-May showed that Andy Burnham—the Mayor of Greater Manchester and considered a primary rival to Keir Starmer—has surpassed Starmer in popularity among Labour Party supporters. The polling results also positioned Burnham as a strong candidate to lead the Labour Party.

The proposed social media ban is part of a policy package currently being drafted by the UK Prime Minister’s office, as Starmer seeks to solidify his leadership ahead of the potential return of Burnham to Parliament via a by-election in Makerfield.

The ban would apply to children under the age of 16, the report stated. The proposed framework adopts experiences from Australia and includes restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and autoplay, according to sources cited by The Times.

The draft regulation may also establish more detailed age limits, restricting access to specific functions and sites for different age groups. These restrictions would be implemented instead of a total ban for all children under 16, as is currently applied in Australia.