The United Kingdom is preparing to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced, citing growing concerns over online safety and the impact of social media on young people.
Under the proposed legislation, platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X would be prohibited for users under 16. Messaging services such as WhatsApp would not be affected by the ban.
Starmer said the move is aimed at protecting children from harmful content and addictive online experiences, arguing that many social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement at the expense of users' well-being.
The government hopes to pass the new regulations by the end of the year, with implementation expected in spring 2027.
In addition to the social media restrictions, officials are exploring further measures targeting gaming services and live-streaming platforms where children may interact with strangers online. Proposed safeguards include overnight access restrictions and limits on features such as infinite scrolling for users under 18.
The policy follows a public consultation that received more than 116,000 responses. According to the government, a large majority of participating parents supported stricter controls on children's access to social media and backed a minimum age requirement of 16.
The UK's approach is partly inspired by Australia, which became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for under-16s.
Technology companies have expressed concerns about the proposal. YouTube warned that a blanket ban could push young users toward less regulated online spaces. However, the government argues that technology firms have a responsibility to protect children from risks including online abuse, coercion and exploitation.
The proposed reforms form part of a broader effort by the UK government to strengthen child safety online and limit young people's exposure to harmful digital content.