Key facts
- Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the new leader of the UK Labour Party.
- Burnham is slated to become the UK Prime Minister on July 20, 2026.
- His predecessor, Keir Starmer, announced a social media ban for individuals under 16.
- A key challenge for Burnham's government is defining "social media" for regulatory purposes.
- The government plans to protect children who circumvent the ban through the existing Online Safety Act.
Andy Burnham is set to become the next UK Prime Minister on July 20, succeeding Keir Starmer, and will immediately face the complex challenge of implementing a social media ban for individuals under 16.
Starmer's government announced the ban, but key details, particularly the definition of "social media," remain unresolved. This ambiguity poses a significant regulatory and legal hurdle, as "social media" is not a defined term in the Online Safety Act. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are confirmed to be included, with the definition drawing inspiration from Australia's approach, focusing on user-to-user services that enable social interaction.
Tech lawyers have cautioned that the definition must be precise to withstand legal challenges from companies seeking exemptions. Unlike Canada's model, which allows regulators to exempt platforms demonstrating adequate child safety measures, the UK government has ruled out such workarounds. Tech Secretary Liz Kendall has indicated that platforms must meet the established criteria to be disallowed for under-16s.
Concerns have been raised that the ban may not be fully effective, as children could circumvent it using VPNs or parental accounts. If this occurs, platforms might treat these users as adults, potentially negating the protections offered by the Online Safety Act and possibly leaving younger users less protected. Burnham's administration will be responsible for navigating these complexities within the evolving online safety landscape.