UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that children under 16 will be banned from using several social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.
The ban is expected to come into effect early next year and will join Britain in a broader international effort to strengthen online safety rules for minors.
Services like YouTube Kids and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are not included in the ban. Enforcement will focus on technology companies rather than children directly.
Platforms that do not take adequate measures to prevent under-16s from accessing their services could face fines worth millions of dollars.
What’s included in the UK social media ban for under-16s
The platforms covered by the ban include:
- snapchat,
- tiktok,
- youtube,
- instagram,
- Facebook, and
- X (formerly Twitter).
- Platforms like YouTube Kids and messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are not included.
The UK is adopting a similar model to Australia, which last year became the first country to ban people under 16 from creating social media accounts.
According to Starmer, the UK plans to go further than Australia by introducing measures to prevent strangers from contacting children on gaming and livestreaming platforms.
Officials are also considering additional restrictions, which could include an overnight curfew and mandatory breaks for users under 18 to prevent endless scrolling. More details are expected to be announced next month.
Why the UK government says a ban on under-16 social media is necessary
Starmer cited the negative effects of harmful content and excessive screen time as reasons for the ban.
He acknowledged that some teens may try to avoid the restrictions but stressed that he is “not willing to compromise the safety and happiness of our children.”
Esther Ghee, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered in 2023 by attackers seeking access to harmful online content, supported the ban, noting it should be part of broader measures.
Children’s charity NSPCC called on authorities to ensure platforms implement effective age checks and properly enforce the policy.
The decision comes after a public consultation, which received 116,000 responses, making it the second largest response to a UK consultation after the 2012 same-sex marriage debate. Over 90% of respondents supported an under-16 ban.
Critics’ concerns and US response to the UK ban
Critics, including the Open Rights Group, have expressed concerns about age verification companies and the security of users’ private data.
Typically, age verification involves uploading a government ID or taking a facial scan, which introduces new risks related to data collection and potential breaches.
A YouTube spokesperson warned that a complete ban could result in kids being pushed away from curated and supervised experiences and toward anonymous, less secure services.
John Crowcroft, professor of communication systems at the University of Cambridge, said proponents of social media bans are well-intentioned but possibly misguided.
He said there is a real risk that this approach could drive some users to worse sites, and that monitoring the devices is almost impossible from a technical standpoint. Crowcroft emphasized that policing platforms is much easier if regulators choose to focus on them.
America has officially expressed its opposition to this step. The US Embassy in London stressed that the rules should be narrowly focused and not infringe on free speech rights.
It also raised concerns that the rules could create additional challenges for US technology companies.
Starmer noted he planned to discuss the issue with US President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit starting on Monday in France.
He said that there has long been an understanding among world leaders that measures are necessary to protect children.
broader context
Britain is joining a growing number of countries imposing age-based restrictions on social media.
Last year, Australia imposed a ban on users under 16, while Canada, Brazil and Indonesia have either announced or implemented similar measures.
France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, and South Korea are exploring or developing their own approaches.
This restriction complements the wider implementation of age verification rules across Europe. In California, the Digital Age Assurance Act will go into effect in January 2027, which includes a recent proposal for an exemption for open source software.
The industry estimates that revenues from age verification services in OECD countries could reach $11.4 billion annually within 10 to 15 years.
The UK government has not yet set a specific date for the ban to take effect, only indicating that the ban is likely to come into effect early next year.
Final details, including required age verification methods for the platform, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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