Starmer Plans Online Safety Push for Under-16s
The UK government has announced a £132.5 million investment in after-school activities as it prepares to introduce new restrictions on social media use for children under 16.
The funding package aims to broaden access to extracurricular opportunities in schools, supporting activities such as sports, music, debating, engineering, and community projects. Ministers say the initiative is intended to give young people more opportunities to develop skills, interests, and friendships away from screens.
The announcement comes just days before the government is expected to unveil a series of online safety measures championed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Proposed measures reportedly include an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s, restrictions on addictive platform features, and possible curfews on access to certain services.
Additional proposals under consideration would limit young users’ access to functions such as disappearing messages and live streaming, while also restricting contact from unknown adults. The government is also expected to ban romantic or sexual AI chatbot services for anyone under 18.
Alongside the funding announcement, the government said that school inspectors at Ofsted will place greater emphasis on the quality of schools’ extracurricular and enrichment programmes when assessing students’ personal development.
Public support for tighter online protections appears strong. A recent government consultation on child online safety attracted more than 116,000 responses, with around 90% of participating parents supporting a social media ban for under-16s.
However, questions remain about how the new rules would be enforced. Legal experts and industry observers have raised concerns about how the government will determine which platforms fall into “high-risk” categories and whether the policy could face court challenges.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the investment is designed to ensure that access to enriching activities is not determined by family income or background. She argued that experiences such as sport, creative arts, and community involvement help young people build confidence and discover new ambitions.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added that the programme would help reduce inequalities by making opportunities more accessible to children regardless of where they live.
School leaders broadly welcomed the initiative but warned that financial pressures and staffing shortages could make implementation difficult. They urged the government to provide practical support to help schools deliver the expanded programmes effectively.
The after-school clubs initiative is expected to be rolled out alongside the government’s wider online safety agenda, as ministers move forward with plans to reshape how children engage with digital platforms.
