‘Like tobacco’: Wes Streeting calls for partial social media ban for under-16s

Exclusive: Former health secretary’s intervention comes as government closes consultation on age limits for platforms

Social media companies should be treated like the tobacco industry, Wes Streeting has argued, as he called for a ban on under-16s accessing certain platforms.

Speaking publicly about the prospect of a ban for the first time since he left government, the former health secretary said one was needed because large technology companies were trying to dodge regulations.