British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a televised news conference in Downing Street in London at which he unveiled plans to raise age at which children can access social media from 13 to 16, with the measure expected to become law in around 9 months. Photo by Jaimi Joy/EPA
June 15 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday a full social media ban for children younger than 16 that he said he expected to become law within a year.
Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, Starmer said the ban would block all children from access to social media in an effort to ensure a "happy and safe environment" that parents wanted for their children, but that the platforms had failed to deliver.
The current legal minimum age at which children are permitted to open an account is 13.
"This is not something I do lightly. And I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong. But government is always about choices. And it's clear to me that a full ban is the right choice," said Starmer.
