British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a package of measures Monday aimed at protecting children online, including possible restrictions on social media use for those under 16, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Subscribe to read this story ad-free <\/p>\n
Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n
![\"arrow\"](\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n
\u201cHow we keep kids safe online is one of the biggest debates of our time. As a dad, I know every parent wants their child to grow up safe and happy,\u201d Starmer said in a statement. \u201cThis is a choice about whose side we\u2019re on: families across the country, or a status quo that isn\u2019t working.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starmer\u2019s government has been considering tougher limits on children\u2019s social media as governments around the world face growing pressure to curb young people\u2019s time online. The push gained momentum after Australia became the first country to pass a law barring children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, an effort aimed at addressing the concerns about the physical and mental health effects of excessive online use.<\/p>\n
The announcement also follows a national consultation survey that <\/a>received more than 116,000 responses between March 2 and May 26 and solicited public opinions on children\u2019s use of technology.<\/p>\n More than 83% of parents who responded said the risks of social media use outweigh the benefits, according to the consultation, and 90% expressed support for a minimum age of 16 before children can access social media platforms.<\/p>\n Enforcement has historically been difficult, however, as children often find ways around age limits imposed by technology companies.<\/p>\n In Australia, those under 16 are now prohibited from using platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat and Reddit. But since the ban took effect in December, authorities have struggled to enforce it. Australia\u2019s eSafety Commission, its top internet regulator, found in March<\/a> that 7 in 10 parents reported their child still had an account on newly restricted platforms.<\/p>\n Starmer said \u201cpeople rightly expect action\u201d from their government.<\/p>\n Over the weekend, the U.K. announced a new \u00a3132.5 million \u201cEvery Child Can\u201d program to fund \u201cenriching activities\u201d<\/a> across sports, art and nature in schools and in local communities as an alternative to scrolling on digital devices.<\/p>\n Last week, Starmer asked tech companies, including Apple and Google, to implement measures that would make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images, <\/a>part of a broader push to reduce online harms. The companies have three months to implement changes before the U.K. introduces legislation that forces them to do so, according to a government news release.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will prevent predators from being able to exploit and abuse victims through their devices, as well as stopping children from being able to access pornography,\u201d the news release stated. \u201cAdults will still be able to take, share or view nude content through an age verification process.\u201d<\/p>\n Apple also recently rolled out age checks<\/a> for U.K.-based iPhone and iPad users, requiring individuals to either verify their age with an ID or credit card or have automatic content filters activated on their device.<\/p>\n In the United States, major social media companies face a growing number of lawsuits alleging they have contributed to mental health harms<\/a> among children and failed to protect them from online predators<\/a>.<\/p>\n A key tool in many of the proposed restrictions is mandatory age verification, which can require a government-issued ID or AI-powered technology that estimates a user\u2019s age through facial analysis.<\/p>\n