2 days ago
Prime minister expected to unveil ‘Australia plus’ ban for under-16s on apps such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat
LIVE Updated 53s ago
Keir Starmer set to announce under-16s social media ban
Good morning. In Downing Street officials reportedly refuse to talk about Keir Starmer wanting to establish a legacy. But it is hard for the rest of us to avoid the word, particularly on a morning when he has summoned reporters to Downing Street for an 8am press conference on his plans for a social media ban. In lobby terms, this counts as unconscionably early. The announcement could easily wait. But Starmer is heading to France for the G7 summit later, that will keep him busy until Wednesday night, and on Thursday it’s the Makerfield byelection. Starmer is determined to make this announcement before then because Andy Burnham seems on course to become an MP in the early hours of Friday and at that point UK politics may start to change drastically – and Starmer’s window for legacy making may swiftly close.
Last summer the UK government showed little interest in following the Australian government when it announced its social media ban for under-16s. Within months the view in government was changing, and by early 2026 Starmer said there would definitely be some sort of crackdown. But he suggested he was still undecided between a full social media ban for under-16s, and alternative measures to crackdown on the most harmful features of these apps.
In the end, Starmer seems to have gone for both these options – under measures being described as “Australia plus”. Jessica Elgot, Dan Milmo and Aisha Down have details here in our overnight story.
The Conservatives are saying Starmer is following their lead. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said:
It’s shameful that it’s taken the prime minister’s job to be on the line for the government to finally u-turn and ban social media for under 16s.
Three times Labour voted against a ban, failing to stand up to Big Tech and protect children from the extreme content they are exposed to every day.
As Conservatives we did not give up, I kept fighting for the brave bereaved parents, health professionals, and campaigners who continued to make the case for change. This victory belongs to them. The Conservatives in opposition can make a difference and this change will finally help parents and protect childhood.
Here is the agenda for the day.
8.10am: Keir Starmer holds a press conference about his plans for a social media ban for under-16s.
10am: Starmer is interviewed on ITV’s This Morning.
11am: Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson, holds a press conference. The party has flagged this to journalists as a Jenrick press conference, but Politico says Farage will be there too – perhaps provoked by the Financial Times joining the Guardian in writing about how his enthusiasm for media scrutiny seems to have mysteriously vanished since the revelations about his £5m donation from a crypto billionaire.
11am: Kemi Badenoch holds a press conference.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
2.30pm: Steve Reed, the housing secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
After 3.30pm: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, makes a statement to MPs about the social media ban for under-16s. And we are also expecting a statement from Dan Jarvis, the new defence secretary, about British troops seizing a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel.
4pm: Antonia Romeo, the cabinet secretary, gives evidence to the Commons public adminstration and constitutional affairs committee.
Afternoon: Starmer arrives in Evian in France for the G7 summit.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.
I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
Key events
Starmer defends government's decision to listen 'very carefully' to campaigners on this issue
Starmer turns to the social media ban, and he says he is glad that people who have been campaigning for a ban are in the room in Downing Street to hear the announcement.
Some people are dismissive of processes like this, but policy making that doesn’t listen very carefully to the voices of those it seeks to serve – that is not how this government carries out its business. And so I just want to thank you for the role that you have all played.
This is an implicit acknowledgement that the government has changed its mind on this issue.
Keir Starmer is speaking now.
Before he starts his speech on social media, he says he welcomes the breakthrough in the UK-Iran peace talks.
He says:
I congratulate President Trump, the mediators from Pakistan and Qatar and all those involved.
This is a hugely significant moment.
We have long called for de-escalation, and it is vital that all parties seize this opportunity to secure stability in the region and restore freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz.
Why is the UK launching an ‘Australia plus’ social media ban and how will it work?
Here is an explainer by Dan Milmo and Aisha Down about the plans Keir Starmer is about to announce.
Keir Starmer set to announce under-16s social media ban
Good morning. In Downing Street officials reportedly refuse to talk about Keir Starmer wanting to establish a legacy. But it is hard for the rest of us to avoid the word, particularly on a morning when he has summoned reporters to Downing Street for an 8am press conference on his plans for a social media ban. In lobby terms, this counts as unconscionably early. The announcement could easily wait. But Starmer is heading to France for the G7 summit later, that will keep him busy until Wednesday night, and on Thursday it’s the Makerfield byelection. Starmer is determined to make this announcement before then because Andy Burnham seems on course to become an MP in the early hours of Friday and at that point UK politics may start to change drastically – and Starmer’s window for legacy making may swiftly close.
Last summer the UK government showed little interest in following the Australian government when it announced its social media ban for under-16s. Within months the view in government was changing, and by early 2026 Starmer said there would definitely be some sort of crackdown. But he suggested he was still undecided between a full social media ban for under-16s, and alternative measures to crackdown on the most harmful features of these apps.
In the end, Starmer seems to have gone for both these options – under measures being described as “Australia plus”. Jessica Elgot, Dan Milmo and Aisha Down have details here in our overnight story.
The Conservatives are saying Starmer is following their lead. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said:
It’s shameful that it’s taken the prime minister’s job to be on the line for the government to finally u-turn and ban social media for under 16s.
Three times Labour voted against a ban, failing to stand up to Big Tech and protect children from the extreme content they are exposed to every day.
As Conservatives we did not give up, I kept fighting for the brave bereaved parents, health professionals, and campaigners who continued to make the case for change. This victory belongs to them. The Conservatives in opposition can make a difference and this change will finally help parents and protect childhood.
Here is the agenda for the day.
8.10am: Keir Starmer holds a press conference about his plans for a social media ban for under-16s.
10am: Starmer is interviewed on ITV’s This Morning.
11am: Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson, holds a press conference. The party has flagged this to journalists as a Jenrick press conference, but Politico says Farage will be there too – perhaps provoked by the Financial Times joining the Guardian in writing about how his enthusiasm for media scrutiny seems to have mysteriously vanished since the revelations about his £5m donation from a crypto billionaire.
11am: Kemi Badenoch holds a press conference.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
2.30pm: Steve Reed, the housing secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
After 3.30pm: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, makes a statement to MPs about the social media ban for under-16s. And we are also expecting a statement from Dan Jarvis, the new defence secretary, about British troops seizing a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel.
4pm: Antonia Romeo, the cabinet secretary, gives evidence to the Commons public adminstration and constitutional affairs committee.
Afternoon: Starmer arrives in Evian in France for the G7 summit.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.
I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
Explore more on these topics
