London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the government will impose a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, calling it a necessary step to protect young people.
Starmer said the move would apply to all under-16s and described a full restriction on social media use for minors as the “right decision” for their wellbeing and development.
The government had launched consultations last month aimed at limiting children’s exposure to social media platforms and related digital devices, with a focus on reducing screen time.
Officials said the policy is intended to shift children’s attention away from mobile phones and laptops and encourage a greater focus on education, physical health, and overall wellbeing.
On the other hand, Social media platform Snapchat has introduced new restrictions for its younger users, barring children aged 13 to 15 from publicly sharing videos on its Spotlight feature.
The platform’s parent company, Snap Inc., said the move is aimed at strengthening online privacy and safety protections for minors.
Under the new policy, videos uploaded by users in this age group will no longer appear on the public Spotlight feed, which functions similarly to TikTok and Instagram Reels.
However, affected users will still be able to share content privately with friends, the company clarified.
Snap Inc. said the decision is intended to reduce risks of online harassment and misuse of personal content while ensuring a safer digital environment for younger users.