UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil new restrictions on children's access to social media within days, according to sources close to the government. The announcement is expected to come in a speech next week, coinciding with the G7 summit in France and the Makerfield by-election.
Government ministers have been reviewing several options, including a complete ban on under-16s using social media—similar to the policy recently adopted in Australia. Discussions have also considered exempting certain less harmful elements of these platforms.
Starmer, who previously resisted such restrictions, has faced mounting pressure from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and dozens of his own Labour MPs. In response, the government launched a public consultation in March. After the consultation closed last month, Starmer vowed to take "decisive" action, calling the forthcoming measures a "game-changer."
"Starmer tells Apple and Google to ban nude images on children's phones," reads a related headline from the BBC.
The exact scope of the restrictions remains unclear, but the prime minister's office has indicated the plan will prioritize child safety while balancing the benefits of digital connectivity.