Starmer to announce ‘Australia plus’ ban on social media for under-16s

Sources say hardline measures will also prevent young users from being able to talk to strangers on gaming apps

Why is the UK launching an ‘Australia plus’ social media ban and how will it work?

Keir Starmer will ban under-16s from major social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram and X in sweeping restrictions described as “Australia plus”, the Guardian understands.

Teenagers will be banned from all the main social platforms, and online products that are not covered by the ban – such as gaming apps – will face new restrictions such as having the option to chat to strangers removed. There will also be restrictions for older teenagers up to the age of 18 that prevent “scrolling” late at night – after 8.30pm.

Government sources said protecting teenagers from harmful addictive content, such as through infinite scrolling, as well as from contact with strangers, were the key drivers of the hardline measures. Under-18s will also be banned from accessing romantic or sexual AI chatbots. “There are no half measures here,” a government source said.

The government may need to legislate to enforce the ban and to give itself flexibility to adapt to new technology, though the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act does give ministers some powers already.

In Australia, which is already enforcing a ban, under-16s are restricted from 10 major platforms: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch and Kick. UK government sources indicated that the bans on major platforms would apply to a similar range of apps.

On Sunday, the government said that nine out of 10 parents backed a minimum age of 16 for accessing the apps in responses supplied to its “growing up in the online world” consultation.