Social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok need to take action to stop young users wasting hours mindlessly scrolling never-ending videos, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.
According to Reuters, Britain is considering restricting access to social media for children and is testing bans, curfews and app time limits to see how they impact sleep, family life and schoolwork.
“We’re consulting on whether there should be a ban for under 16s,” Starmer told BBC Radio. “But I think equally important, the addictive scrolling mechanisms are really problematic to my mind. They need to go.”
Social media companies had designed algorithms that were intended to encourage addictive behaviour, and parents were asking the government to intervene, Starmer said.
Global Movement To Protect Children Online
Australia in December became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16, with Greece and Indonesia also enacting similar bans.
The UK government said more than 45,000 people had already responded to its consultation on children’s online safety, adding that there was still time to contribute before a deadline of May 26.
“We want to hear from mums and dads who are worried about the amount of time their children spend online and what they are viewing,” Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said on Monday.
“We want to hear from teenagers who know better than anyone what it is like to grow up in the age of social media. And we want to hear from families about their views on curfews, AI chatbots and addictive features.”
Why This Matters for UK Families
The prime minister’s comments reflect growing concern among parents about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, sleep patterns and academic performance.
The “never-ending scrolling” feature — where platforms continuously load new content without requiring user input — has been criticised by child development experts for exploiting psychological vulnerabilities in young users.
If the UK follows Australia’s lead with an under-16 ban, it would represent one of the most significant regulatory interventions into social media in British history.
For now, the government is consulting. But Starmer’s language — “they need to go” — suggests he is ready to act.
Sources: Reuters
