Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is considering measures that could impose stricter restrictions on children’s access to social media than those currently in place in Australia. The move aims to address concerns about the harmful impact of online content on children and follows a recent meeting at Downing Street with parents who have lost children after they encountered damaging material online.

Sir Keir indicated plans to introduce a “game-changer” policy within weeks, pending the outcome of a public consultation that has attracted around 70,000 responses, including thousands from parents. Officials have outlined three potential approaches under consideration. The first resembles the Australian model, which prohibits children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. However, evidence from Australia suggests that around 60 percent of children have bypassed these restrictions, largely due to weak age-verification processes and migration to unregulated sites.

A second option would target specific platform functionalities deemed harmful to children, such as endless scrolling, algorithm-driven content delivery, autoplay features, livestreaming, and “streaks,” which reward daily engagement. This approach would require social media companies to block these features for underage users.

The third and most stringent option combines the age-based ban with restrictions on harmful functionalities, alongside enhanced age-verification mechanisms designed to prevent children from accessing social media. No final decision has been announced, with government sources emphasizing the need for a thorough consultation process to avoid potential legal challenges from technology firms.

Sir Keir stressed the urgency and importance of acting swiftly, saying the government has already secured powers to implement changes rapidly once the consultation concludes. “It is absolutely clear to me that we need to take action to protect children and we can act quickly,” he said during the meeting with bereaved parents.

The proposed measures have also drawn support from Labour politician Wes Streeting, who described social media as addictive and harmful, likening it to tobacco. He called for a ban on under-16s as a starting point rather than a final step, criticizing big tech companies for resisting regulation. “We’ve got to give our children their childhood back,” he said.

The government’s review reflects growing public concern about the role of social media in children’s mental health and safety, with policymakers seeking to balance protection with feasibility in enforcement. The consultation outcome and final policy decisions are expected to be announced in the near term.