London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan Calls for Ban on Social Media for Under‑16s

In a provocative address to engineers, founders and investors, Sir Sadiq Khan announced London’s support for a blanket ban on social media services for users under 16. The mayor framed the move as the only realistic way to tackle the growing harms children face online, from cyber‑bullying to addictive features.

“Products ranging from food to pharmaceuticals must demonstrate safety before sale,” Khan said. He applied the same logic to technology firms, arguing that platforms should prove the safety of their content or be barred from operating in the UK.

The mayor’s stance puts him ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has pledged “game‑changer” action but stopped short of an outright ban. The call comes after the government’s July 2026 consultation on children’s online experiences, which explored minimum age limits, curfews on addictive features, and stronger age‑verification.

While Khan insists that policies must “re‑imagine” the internet, he also warned that the dominance of the manosphere could create a “lost generation of young men.” To address this, he announced a £1 m package for boys and young men, focusing on support for vulnerable pupils and community football mentors.

Not everyone welcomes a ban. I‑based experts and child‑protection charities argue that sanctions could shift risk onto children, forcing them toward unregulated sides of the web that are more difficult to monitor. In addition, the UK’s Online Safety Act could be strengthened instead, emphasizing evidence, accountability, and enforcement.

Tech giants have varied responses. Meta and Snap favour app‑store‑level age checks, while Apple pushes for developer‑level responsibility. The debate highlights the lack of consensus on how to best protect young users while preserving the benefits of digital engagement.

Ultimately, the UK government will likely use the new powers under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 to refine the law, aiming to ensure that any age restriction comes with robust safeguards and platform‑level accountability.