Summary

  • Keir Starmer is expected to announce that under-16s will be banned from major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram

  • In a statement last night, the prime minister said "we will call time on a system that's failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life"

  • The measures are part of the government's plans to protect young people from harm online and address unhealthy late-night scrolling on phones

  • It follows a government consultation on social media restrictions - it found that a majority support the ban but campaigners have warned that such sweeping measures could cause more problems

  • Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a similar ban in December last year

Live Reporting

Edited by Sam Hancock

  1. Government says consultation found 90% of parents backed minimum age of 16 for social media

    Stock image of a group of children scrolling through social media in a dark roomGetty Images

    In the prime minister's announcement later this morning, the government says he will set out measures that aim to protect future generations from online harm.

    It follows a consultation which saw more than 116,000 responses, including those from parents and young people.

    It says 90% of parents who responded backed a minimum age of 16 before anyone is able to access social media, with 85% saying the risk of social media outweigh the benefits.

    We'll be following the PM's announcement, due shortly after 08:00 BST, and will be bring you all the key points.

  2. Social media bans across the world - a quick glance

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  3. Australia's ban - how does it work?

    Two teenage boys look at their smartphone screens.Getty Images

    Last December, Australia brought in a ban on social media for all under-16s, stopping children from using platforms like Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads.

    Following the introduction of the ban, under-16s are now not able to set up new accounts and their existing profiles were deactivated.

    Australia became the first country in the world to do this.

    So, how is the ban enforced?

    Children and parents aren't punished for breaking the rules. Instead, social media companies face fines of up to A$49.5m (US $32m, £25m) for serious or repeated breaches.

    The government says firms must take "reasonable steps" to keep children off their platforms, using several age assurance technologies.

    These could include government IDs, face or voice recognition, or "age inference", which analyses online behaviour to estimate a person's age.

    Platforms can't rely on users self-certifying or parents vouching for their children.

    As a reminder, Starmer says the UK would "go further" than Australia with additional measures including curfews for older teenagers and restrictions on AI chatbots.

  4. UK's social media ban would 'go further' than Australia's - Starmer

    The Sunday Times reported, the prime minister was set to announce a ban covering the same 10 platforms now prohibited for under-16s in Australia: TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, but also YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, X, Threads, Facebook and Kick.

    It said the UK would "go further" than Australia with additional measures including curfews for older teenagers and restrictions on AI chatbots.

    In our next post, we'll take a closer look at how Australia's social media ban for under-16s works.

  5. 'We will call time on a system that’s failing our kids,' says PM

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer pictures at 10 Downing Street in central London on June 14, 2026Getty Images

    In a statement released on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described online safety for children as "one of the biggest debates of our time".

    "As a dad, I know every parent wants their child to grow up safe and happy," the prime minister said, adding that the current status quo "isn't working".

    "People rightly expect action, and this government will always stand up for parents and put children first," he added.

    "That’s why we will call time on a system that’s failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life."

  6. Starmer expected to ban under-16s from major social media platforms

    Several children sit in a row on their phonesReuters

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to ban under-16s from major social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

    Children will also stop being able to livestream on "safer" sites and stop being able to talk to strangers on gaming apps, the prime minister is set to announce.

    Ministers are considering whether to impose social media curfews for children, but further details will not be unveiled until next month.

    Australia introduced the world's first outright ban on social media for under-16s in December 2025 and Whitehall sources are describing the UK's scheme, to be unveiled by Starmer on Monday morning, as "Australia-plus".

    "This is a choice about whose side we're on: families across the country, or a status quo that isn't working," he has said.

    He added he would "call time on a system that's failing our kids".

    He'll be speaking at around 08:00 BST, you can watch live right here on this page and we'll bring you the latest developments.