London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will throw his weight behind a social media ban for under 16s as it is 'the only way to stem the harms we know are happening right now'07:18, 02 Jun 2026London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will today throw his weight behind a social media ban for under 16s as it is “the only way to stem the harms we know are happening right now”.‌Pressure is mounting on the Government to follow Australia in raising the age kids are allowed to access online platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.‌In a speech in London today, Sir Sadiq is expected to say: “From food to pharmaceuticals, almost every company has to prove that its products are safe before they’re sold. I see no reason why social media firms shouldn’t do the same.‌“Until they can prove that their platforms are safe for kids, a ban is the only way to stem the harms we know are happening right now.”But he is also expected to add that a ban alone will not solve all the issues, warning: “Rather than just restricting access to social media, we must reimagine it.” He will add: “Londoners deserve platforms which prioritise people, not just profit, where connection does not carry such a heavy cost.”‌At the speech at SXSW London, Sir Sadiq will also announce a £1million package of measures to support boys and young men across the capital, with a warning that online misogyny risks “a lost generation of young men”.He will also call on tech companies to “explain how misogyny spreads like wildfire on their platforms – and publicly set out how they’ll adjust their algorithms to stop it”, adding: “If they refuse to act, then the state must step up.”He will brand so-called manosphere influencers “snake oil salesmen who take advantage of young men’s ambition to peddle pound shop misogyny,” adding: "This kind of content can be catastrophic for the young men who consume it, but its consequences for the women in their lives are terrifying, too.‌“These manosphere voices aren’t just allowed to pump out poison. They’re rewarded for it by a system that’s rigged in their favour.”He will also call for efforts to engage young men amid the conversations around “toxic masculinity”, rather than risk leaving many feeling “alienated” and “looking for validation elsewhere”.His office said the £1m includes funding for a new programme for fathers and putting footballing mentors into communities across the capital.‌Technology Secretary Liz Kendall over the weekend gave the strongest indication yet that ministers are preparing to block millions of young people from using social media apps until they are 16. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, she said a ban was "definitely on the table" after parents overwhelmingly told the Government's online safety consultation they wanted to see one introduced.She said: "A ban is definitely on the table, and I think for parents, they are crying out for help and support to do the right thing for their kids. That's been a message that's come across loud and clear."We haven't yet made up our mind, but I think it's quite clear that something drastic has to happen to provide the kind of support that parents want."Article continues belowMore than 100,000 people responded to the Government's consultation, which came to a close last week. Around 40,000 parents were among those who gave their view, with nine in 10 of them supporting a ban for under 16s.The Government's consultation has also been considering other restrictive measures including app caps, curbs on addictive design features and overnight curfews. Some early evidence from Australia, which introduced a ban in December, suggests many children are still accessing social media despite the restrictions. Flaws in age verification tools are thought to be part of the problem.While many campaigners have called on Keir Starmer to bring in a ban, others have warned it could create a false sense of safety for children and parents. Some argue that a ban could push young people into darker, unregulated spaces on the internet. They instead want tech firms to make their platforms safer for all.