LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce a ban on “harmful” online platforms for children under 16 while maintaining access to some safer forms of social media, the Times newspaper reported on Monday. Starmer, who is due to make a speech later on Monday, is said to have decided to proceed with restrictions after speaking to bereaved parents and considering evidence from Australia, which brought in a ban for under-16s last December.

Starmer has been urged not to water down plans for tougher online safety rules as ministers prepare to unveil proposals within weeks.

Children’s tsar has called for ban to be extended to teenagers up to the age of 18