Keir Starmer has announced a major overhaul of online safety rules, including a ban on social media access for under-16s from spring 2027. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X will be required to prevent younger users from accessing their services, while messaging apps and some gaming platforms will remain exempt, though with additional safeguards. The reforms also include restrictions on livestreaming, contact from strangers, and sexually explicit AI chat interactions for children. Starmer said protecting children’s wellbeing must take priority over the interests of technology companies, while technology secretary Liz Kendall described the measures as a significant step towards making the online world safer. The decision follows a major public consultation in which a large majority of parents supported stronger protections. While campaign groups and many bereaved parents welcomed the announcement, some children’s commissioners and technology firms questioned whether a blanket ban is the most effective solution.