London [UK], June 15 (HBTV): The United Kingdom has announced a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.
In a video message posted on X, Starmer said the decision followed consultations with thousands of parents and was driven by concerns over the impact of social media addiction on children's lives, particularly their mental health.
'These days, kids have to find their feet in a world that changes so quickly, where technology intrudes into every area of their lives. And we know that harms them. The response from parents in the consultation has been absolutely clear. Thousands of parents say their children are addicted to social media. It can leave them trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep, and time with the family. It can harm their mental health. 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 it a major step for the country, Starmer said the government had carefully examined the evidence and learned from other countries that have taken similar measures.
'This decision has been resisted and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world. But we will take them on and we will win because the need for action could not be any clearer. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe,' Starmer said.
Highlighting the urgency of the move, he added, 'Our children deserve better. They deserve a happy, safe childhood in a stronger, fairer Britain.'
The UK joins a growing list of countries that have proposed or enacted measures regulating social media use among minors.
Earlier in June, a government panel in Japan called for stronger responsibilities for social media operators, including stricter age-verification requirements and restrictions on certain platform features, as part of proposed measures to protect underage users, according to Kyodo News.
France is also seeking to fast-track legislation to ban social media use for children under the age of 15. Australia implemented a blanket ban on social media for children under 16 last year, while Spain and Denmark are considering similar measures.
(ANI)