Keir Starmer confirms social media ban for all children under 16

Starmer was applauded in Number 10 as he made the announcement

All children under the age of 16 will be banned from using social media, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

The Prime Minister was applauded and cheered at a press conference today as he confirmed that the government will block all children under 16 from accessing social media.

He said the ban will be passed in Parliament before Christmas and come into force at the beginning of 2027.

The decision comes less than three weeks after the end of a consultation that drew more than 110,000 responses, including tens of thousands from parents across the country.

Sir Keir said at a press conference this morning: ‘It is clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.’

Explaining his reasons for a ban, he said his decision was influenced by being a parent of two.

Tech Secretary Liz Kendall will likely be responsible for setting out the ban (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Shutterstock)

He continued: ‘All I want for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and safe.

‘I ask the question now – do we truly belive that social media creates a happy environment for our children?

‘Do we truly believe that it’s a place where they can feel safe? I don’t think I even need to answer those questions, do I?

‘Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy. it is making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them.’

The Prime Minister went on: ‘It is designed to be addictive. Features like the infinite scroll are designed to lock you in for hours.’

The PM’s announcement was welcomed by bereaved parents who blame social media for the deaths of their children.

Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in April 2022, told the BBC that Sir Keir had made ‘a very good speech’.

She thanked the prime minister, but warned that the ‘the devil is in the detail.’

Ellen Roome thanked the prime minister for pursuing a social media ban for under 16s(Picture: PA)

Lisa Kenevan, whose son Isaac was found dead in March 2022, praised the Sir Keir for ‘being a human being’ and ‘understand[ing] how social media has affected everybody.’

She added: ‘We are in a good place now and we are going to be learning as we go.’

A new poll for the Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank has found the public is largely split on whether children’s social media use should be tackled with a ban or through tighter regulation.

The survey showed 44% of the public wanted to see a ban, while 39% said they would prefer regulation.

However, 54% of parents with a child under 16 said they would back a ban compared to 36% who were in favour of tighter regulation.

The government has come under great political pressure to block social media for under-16s since shortly after Australia began enforcing its ban in December 2025.

Peers in the House of Lords voted twice to place the measure in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, leading to a compromise where ministers promised ‘some form of age or functionality restrictions’.

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