British Leader Plans to Limit Social Media for Kids Under 16

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is planning to ban some social media platforms for children under 16 years old. He wants to block apps that could harm kids while still letting them use safer forms of social media. Starmer made this decision after talking to parents whose children were hurt by online content. He also looked at what Australia did when they banned social media for kids under 16 in December.

A government source said Starmer is willing to fight big technology companies to keep young people safe. However, the formal ban might not happen right away this week. Instead, the government might first focus on stopping children from creating inappropriate images online that could be used to blackmail them.

Britain held meetings earlier this year to discuss how children use social media. They talked about setting time limits, creating curfews, and stopping apps from using tricks that make kids want to use them more. Many parents and experts are worried that social media hurts children's mental health and puts them in danger online.

Other countries are making similar rules too. France, Denmark, and Poland are all thinking about limiting social media for kids. Greece already announced that children under 15 won't be allowed to use these apps starting in January 2027. These countries want to copy what Australia did to protect their young people.

When Starmer speaks about this topic, he plans to talk about how technology can help people in positive ways. His office said he wants to make sure new technology brings good changes to society. Britain already has laws that require social media companies to protect children from harmful content online.

Not everyone agrees that banning social media completely will work well. Some experts think there might be better ways to keep kids safe online. A group of young people in London told reporters they don't want these restrictions. They believe they should have the right to use social media like adults do.