英国首相斯塔默将宣布禁止16岁以下人群使用主流社交媒体Starmer to Announce Social Media Ban for Under-16s

英国首相基尔·斯塔默预计将于周一上午正式宣布，禁止16岁以下青少年使用TikTok、Instagram和X等主流社交媒体平台。这一举措标志着英国政府政策的重大转变，其限制力度远超此前向媒体透露的范围。白厅消息人士将该计划称为“澳大利亚+”模式，因为其核心限制范围与澳大利亚在2025年12月实施的开创性禁令高度相似，该禁令限制了包括TikTok、YouTube、Instagram、Reddit、Facebook、X、Threads、Snapchat、Twitch和Kick在内的10大主流平台。

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to formally announce on Monday morning a sweeping ban on major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and X, for children under the age of 16. This major policy shift represents a much tougher stance than previously briefed by government officials. Whitehall sources have dubbed the upcoming initiative the 'Australia plus' scheme because its core restrictions closely mirror the landmark legislation enacted by Australia in December 2025, which barred under-16s from ten major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch, and Kick.

之所以被称为“澳大利亚+”，是因为英国的政策在全面禁用主流平台的基础上，还增加了更为严厉的附加限制。根据唐宁街的计划，那些未被完全禁用的在线产品（例如游戏应用）将面临新的监管，包括剥夺年轻用户与陌生人聊天的功能，同时还将禁止儿童在一些被认为“较安全”的网站上进行直播。通过这些超越澳大利亚模式的额外举措，斯塔默政府旨在为未成年人构建一个更加封闭和安全的网络环境。

The 'plus' designation reflects the UK's decision to implement additional hardline measures that go beyond the Australian model. Under the new proposals, online products not covered by the outright ban, such as gaming applications, will face strict new regulations, including the removal of options for young users to chat with strangers. Furthermore, the policy will prevent children from livestreaming on platforms deemed to be 'safer' sites, establishing a more restrictive digital environment for minors.

英国政府即将推出的新规不仅限于限制青少年访问主流社交媒体，还针对其他未被完全禁用的在线产品制定了更为严厉的“加号”举措。根据唐宁街的计划，游戏应用等在线产品将面临新的监管要求，其允许年轻用户与陌生人聊天的功能将被强制剥夺。此外，为了进一步保护未成年人，政府还将禁止儿童在一些被认为“较安全”的网站上进行在线直播，以防止潜在的网络安全风险。

The UK government's upcoming regulations go beyond restricting access to major social media platforms by introducing tougher 'plus' measures for other online products that escape the outright ban. Under the Downing Street proposals, online products such as gaming applications will face strict new regulatory requirements, including the mandatory removal of options that allow young users to chat with strangers. Additionally, the policy will prevent children from livestreaming even on platforms that are generally deemed to be 'safer' sites, aiming to eliminate potential online safety risks.

除上述针对16岁以下人群的限制外，英国政府还在考虑对18岁以下的较大年龄青少年实施限制措施。这些考量包括限制他们在深夜进行“刷屏”浏览，或者直接实施社交媒体宵禁。尽管这些针对深夜使用社交媒体的限制措施已在讨论中，但内阁部长们预计要到下个月才会公布关于宵禁和深夜限制的具体政策细节。

Beyond the restrictions targeting children under the age of 16, the government is also considering measures for older teenagers up to the age of 18. These potential rules include restrictions to prevent teenagers from scrolling late at night, as well as the implementation of broader social media curfews. While these late-night scrolling and curfew measures are actively being considered by ministers, the government is not expected to unveil the specific details of these proposals until next month.

这项即将宣布的禁令背后有着强大的民意基础。英国政府在今年3月2日至5月26日期间进行了一项全国性咨询调查，旨在广泛征求公众对儿童使用科技产品的意见。该调查在社会上引发了极其热烈的反响，在近三个月的时间里共收到了超过11.6万份回复，反映出英国社会各界对未成年人网络安全问题的高度关注。

The upcoming policy announcement is backed by strong public sentiment, as demonstrated by a comprehensive national consultation survey conducted between March 2 and May 26. The government initiative sought public opinions on children's technology use and generated a massive response, drawing more than 116,000 submissions over the nearly three-month period, reflecting deep societal concern over youth digital safety.

调查结果显示，绝大多数家长对社交媒体带来的负面影响深感担忧。在参与调查的家长中，超过83%的受访者明确表示，使用社交媒体给孩子带来的风险已经远远超过了其潜在的好处。此外，高达90%的家长对将16岁设定为允许访问社交媒体平台的最低年龄门槛表示支持，这为斯塔默政府出台这一被称为“澳大利亚+”的强硬监管政策提供了坚实的民意支撑。

The survey data revealed overwhelming parental anxiety regarding the impact of digital platforms on minors. Among the parents who participated in the consultation, more than 83% stated that the risks associated with social media use outweigh any potential benefits. Furthermore, an overwhelming 90% of parent respondents expressed direct support for establishing a minimum age limit of 16 before children are permitted to access social media platforms, providing the government with a clear mandate for its restrictive proposals.

斯塔默对这一决策进行了明确的政治定位，强调这是在“我们站在哪一边”之间做出抉择。他表示，政府的选择是站在全国各地的家庭一边，而不是继续维持一个无法发挥作用、让孩子们受到伤害的失效现状。他明确承诺，将终结这个未能保护好儿童的失败系统，以此展现其保护未成年人网络安全的决心。

Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the decision as a clear choice regarding whose side the government is on, stating that they are choosing to stand with families across the country rather than supporting a status quo that is not working. He pledged to call time on a system that is failing children, positioning the policy as a direct intervention to protect minors from online harms.

英国的这一强硬举措也顺应了全球范围内日益增长的监管压力。随着各国政府面临越来越多要求限制青少年上网时间的呼声，网络安全已成为全球性议题。澳大利亚在2025年12月通过了全球首个禁止16岁以下儿童访问主流社交媒体平台的法律，旨在应对过度使用网络对青少年身心健康带来的负面影响，而英国此次推出的“澳大利亚+”计划正是这一全球监管趋势的延续和升级。

This move aligns with growing global pressure on governments to curb young people's time online and address the physical and mental health effects of excessive social media use. The momentum for such regulations increased significantly after Australia became the first country to pass a law in December 2025 barring children under 16 from major platforms, establishing a precedent that the UK is now expanding upon with its tougher 'plus' measures.