UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly planning to announce a ban on “harmful” social media platforms for children under 16, while still allowing access to safer platforms.
Starmer’s decision to impose restrictions comes after discussions with grieving parents and reviewing evidence from Australia, which implemented a similar ban last December. However, a source close to the matter indicated that a formal ban might not be announced this week, reported Reuters.
The UK government is expected to provide more immediate details on efforts to prevent children from creating sexualised images online, which can be used for sextortion.
Earlier this year, concerns about the impact of social media on mental health and online safety led Britain to consult on children’s access to social media, considering measures such as curfews, time limits, and controls on addictive design features.
Starmer is expected to emphasize the need to ensure technology delivers positive societal benefits in a speech on Monday, as per the report.
Kier Starmer’s office did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
Countries Push Tougher Online Safeguards
This move by the UK Prime Minister follows a global trend of increasing scrutiny on social media platforms and their impact on younger users. In December, South Korea’s media commission nominee, Kim Jong-cheol, proposed similar restrictions on teen social media use.
Meanwhile, in March, Australia’s internet safety regulator flagged Meta Platform‘s (NASDAQ:META) Instagram, TikTok, and Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) YouTube, Snap Inc.’s (NYSE:SNAP) Snapchat, for potential violations, three months into the implementation of Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) law.
This was followed by a Swiss survey revealing that 94% of respondents supported stricter safeguards for children and teenagers on social media, leading to the Swiss Interior Minister signaling openness to restricting or even banning social media access for minors.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms is reportedly expanding beyond advertising by rolling out paid subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Meta AI. According to BNP Paribas, these offerings could generate about $13.5 billion in additional revenue by 2028, significantly boosting Meta’s “Other Revenue” segment and adding nearly 4% to total revenue while supporting strong profit margins.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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