Overview
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday publicly endorsed an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s and said a ban was “the only way” to curb known harms to children and young men.
- Khan demanded that platforms explain how misogyny spreads on their services and publicly set out algorithm changes to stop it, warning that the state will intervene if firms refuse to act.
- The mayor’s intervention follows a UK government consultation that closed last week and comes as ministers, including Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, signal proposals are due this summer with legislation possible before year-end.
- Practical enforcement questions remain because early evidence from Australia’s December ban shows many children still access apps and age checks can be bypassed when verification tools rely on weak methods.
- Khan also announced a £1 million package to support vulnerable boys in London through school programmes, fathering initiatives and football mentors, a move aimed at addressing harms and offering an alternative to online influences.