Britain has increasingly toughened its approach to tech companies in recent years, urging or forcing them to impose age verification, adapt their algorithms and, most recently, prevent children from circulating nude images taken on mobile phones.
But with a growing awareness of the mental health risks posed by children spending too much time online, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has decided to go further after speaking to parents and considering evidence from Australia, which brought in a ban for under 16s last year.
Starmer, who is likely to face a leadership challenge in the coming weeks, said people rightly expected action.
"That's why we will call time on a system that's failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life," he said, ahead of an announcement on Monday morning.
The Guardian newspaper said Starmer would announce a ban for all under-16s from the main social media platforms while online products that are not covered, such as gaming apps, will face restrictions, such as preventing children from talking to strangers.
