UK Government Seeks to Tighten Restrictions on Children’s Use of Social Media
UK Government Seeks to Tighten Restrictions on Children’s Use of Social Media
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The British government is preparing to seek expanded legal powers to regulate children’s access to social media platforms.
According to a statement released by Keir Starmer’s office on Monday, the Prime Minister plans to approach UK Parliament to request additional authority to set a legal minimum age for social media use and to impose restrictions on minors’ access to virtual private network (VPN) services. The move is part of a broader effort to safeguard children’s mental health and digital wellbeing, as reported by The Times.
Starmer said excessive use of social media negatively affects children’s ability to concentrate, undermines self-confidence, and has a direct impact on mental health. His remarks come amid growing debate in the UK over the long-term effects of digital content and platform algorithms that encourage addictive usage patterns.
The Times reported that the proposed measures could be implemented later this year, following public consultations scheduled for the summer, before draft legislation is presented to Parliament. Options under consideration include banning social media use for children under 16, introducing daily time limits on smartphone use, and restricting app features designed to drive prolonged engagement, such as endless scrolling and frequent notifications. Limiting minors’ use of VPNs to bypass age restrictions is also being discussed.
The UK government launched consultations in January on reducing children’s and teenagers’ use of social media and tightening controls on smartphone use in schools.
Internationally, similar steps have been taken elsewhere. Australia imposed a ban on under-16s using the live-streaming platform Twitch in December 2025, with plans to extend restrictions to other major platforms. The developments reflect a growing global trend toward stronger regulation of the digital space to protect children, amid ongoing debate over balancing user freedom and state responsibility for digital safety.
