Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil a ban that would stop anyone under 16 from accessing major social platforms on Monday. The proposal mirrors Australia’s recent age‑limit raise and adds chat‑bot restrictions and a night‑time curfew for older teens, and aims to curb late‑night scrolling that fuels anxiety. Platforms named include TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC that a ban alone is not a silver bullet, but part of a ‘basket of measures’ to protect children. The government’s consultation attracted about 116,000 responses, the second‑largest ever, with most callers—parents, campaigners and many youths—supporting the restriction. Officials cite Australian data showing weak age‑verification undermines enforcement. They also propose tighter digital‑identity checks to block VPN circumvention.

Critics argue the ban may only give an illusion of safety, pointing to VPN work‑arounds that let under‑aged users slip past controls. Trade unions and the IPPR push for a full prohibition, while child‑safety charities call for broader reforms of platform design. Public opinion remains split, few trust ministers. The upcoming announcement will test whether Britain can impose stricter age checks than its Australian counterpart.