A ban on social media use for children under 16 is being considered by the British government within the year, following the example of other countries. Keir Starmer’s government is extending platform obligations to artificial intelligence systems, closing the legal loophole that allowed the production of illegal or harmful content.
Keir Starmer: Britain must become a pioneer in children’s online safety
Additionally, nighttime phone deactivation and restrictions on features that encourage endless scrolling are being examined, with rapid rule enforcement through regulations within the existing Online Safety Act, without requiring a new multi-year bill. It should be noted that Australia was the first to implement this model, while countries such as Spain, Portugal, and even Greece are also considering implementing the ban.
Keir Starmer stated that “no platform will have a free pass” and that Britain must become a pioneer in children’s online safety, arguing that technology evolves faster than legislation and interventions must happen within months, not years.
