UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for younger teenagers and bar under-16s from apps like TikTok, Instagram, and X. Mr Starmer is expected to use a speech on Monday morning local time to announce the sweeping changes, which will also crack down on romantic chatbots and some gaming app features, the Financial Times reports. Restrictions for children up to the age of 18 that prevent “scrolling” late at night will also form part of the proposed policy, according to The Guardian UK. Australia’s world-first social media ban took effect on December 10 and blocked younger teenagers from 10 social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and X. The policy followed the Let Them Be Kids campaign spearheaded by News Corp Australia, which lobbied the federal government to crack down on social media-related harm on children. Since the landmark changes took effect in Australia, countries including Malaysia, France, and Spain have either tried to legislate or signalled their intentions to pass similar social media laws. Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the tech giant would introduce new child safety features, including a recommended set of essential apps, Ask to Browse, Time Allowances, and a redesigned Screen Time. Anthony Albanese was briefed on the changes via a personal call from Mr Cook who told the Prime Minister Apple was “in part inspired by Australia’s world-leading social media age ban”. Last month, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told a Senate Estimates hearing her office had yet to issue any fines to platforms captured by the social media ban. “We have not yet reached a final determination on whether platforms are taking reasonable steps (to prevent under-16s from creating or keeping accounts), which is the highest standard we must prove under the legislation,” she said. She acknowledged there was “a strong interest” in why fines had not been issued, but added “systemic noncompliance needs to be proven in court with solid evidence and complex legal proceedings”.