According to reports, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is about to announce that children under 16 will be banned from using "harmful" online platforms, while allowing them to continue to use certain safer social media. Starmer, who is due to speak later on Monday, is understood to have decided to impose the restrictions after speaking to parents who have lost children and drawing on Australia's experience. Australia already implemented a ban on people under 16 in December.
Asked about the report, a Downing Street source said: "The Prime Minister is not afraid to stand up to tech companies and their executives to protect young people."
A formal ban is unlikely this week, a person familiar with the matter said. The government may release details sooner to prevent children from creating pornographic images online that could be used for sex blackmail.
The UK launched a consultation on children's use of social media earlier this year amid concerns about its impact on mental health and online safety, and is now considering measures such as curfews, usage time limits and restrictions on addictive design features.
France, Denmark and Poland are also considering tightening rules on social media use by children, while Greece announced in April that it would ban social media use by people under 15 from January 2027.
Starmer is expected to focus his speech later on Monday on how the government can ensure technology brings positive change, according to a statement from his office on Sunday.
UK cyber safety laws already require social media companies to take steps to protect children from illegal and harmful online content.
Experts are divided over the effectiveness of a blanket ban, and a group of young people in London recently told Reuters they opposed such restrictions.