Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that the government will ban children under 16 from using social media, making the UK one of the latest countries to take this step.
The new rules will be introduced in Parliament before the end of 2026 and are expected to come into force in early 2027. Along with social media, the restrictions will also cover livestreaming apps and some gaming platforms.
What Will Be Banned?
Major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, and X will be off-limits for under-16s. However, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected.
The government also said it plans to stop children under 16 from livestreaming and communicating with strangers on a range of online services. Authorities say they are also looking at possible overnight curfews and limits on endless scrolling for those under 18.
Why Now?
Public pressure has been building for months. A YouGov poll from December found that 74% of Britons supported a ban on social media for under-16s. More than 116,000 people responded when the government asked for public views on the issue in March. Of those, 90% of parents backed a minimum age of 16, and 85% said the risks of social media outweighed the benefits.
“I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen,” Starmer said at a press conference.
Mixed Reactions
Many parents and family groups welcomed the announcement. Justine Roberts, founder of the parenting forum Mumsnet, called it “a huge moment for children’s online safety.” The charity Smartphone Free Childhood described it as “a hugely significant moment for children and families across the UK.”
However, critics have raised concerns. Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, said the move was “politically expedient” and argued the government should instead focus on forcing platforms to remove harmful content.
Tech industry groups also pushed back. The Computer and Communications Industry Association warned that blanket restrictions could push children toward “riskier, unregulated alternatives.” Meta, YouTube, and other major platforms said they had already introduced safety features for younger users.
Will It Work?
The UK is following a model similar to Australia, which introduced a similar ban in December 2025. However, early signs from Australia suggest many teenagers have simply found ways around it. Experts say the longer-term impact may only become clear years from now.
Starmer acknowledged the ban would not stop every child from accessing social media but compared it to alcohol laws, noting that legal restrictions still serve a purpose even when occasionally broken.
