UK to ban social media for under-16s, Starmer announces

The United Kingdom will ban social media platforms from providing services to users under the age of 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, as governments worldwide face increasing pressure to improve child safety online.

The ban could apply to major platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The first regulations are expected to take effect as early as spring 2027.

The UK government plans to base its approach on landmark legislation introduced in Australia late last year, but intends to go further by imposing additional restrictions on features considered particularly harmful to children.

These measures include blocking livestreaming and preventing communication with strangers for users under 16. For users aged 16 and 17, similar protections will be enabled by default. The government is also considering additional tools such as overnight usage curfews and limits on infinite scrolling for minors.

“We’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back,” Starmer said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference, Starmer added that social media is contributing to children’s unhappiness and is designed to be addictive, stressing that the decision was not taken lightly.

By Tamilla Hasanova