British PM on upcoming ban for under-16s

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an upcoming ban on social media for all children under the age of 16.

The policy is heavily modeled after similar trailblazing legislation passed in Australia, though the UK plans to introduce even tighter restrictions. The first set of regulations is expected to take effect in early.

The blanket ban covers major social platforms where algorithmic feeds dominate, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, X and Reddit.

Private messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal are excluded from the ban so teenagers can still communicate with family and friends. The government will mandate robust age-verification technology, building upon powers granted in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act.