THE United Kingdom is set to introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing online platforms as harmful to young people’s wellbeing and safety.
Announcing the policy today, Starmer said the government would prohibit under-16s from using major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X. Messaging services such as WhatsApp will not be affected by the proposed restrictions.
According to the British government, the move is aimed at protecting children from harmful content and reducing exposure to features designed to encourage excessive use of social media.
Starmer said he expects the legislation to be approved before the end of the year, with implementation planned for the spring of next year.
He also revealed that the government is considering additional measures, including overnight restrictions and limits on endless scrolling for users under 18.
The decision follows a government consultation that allowed teenagers to test social media restrictions and app time limits.
Officials said the proposal received significant public backing, with a large majority of participating parents expressing concern about the impact of social media on children.
The prime minister noted that the policy was partly inspired by Australia, which became the first country to implement a social media ban for users under 16.
In addition to social media restrictions, the UK government plans to introduce stronger safeguards on gaming and live-streaming platforms that allow interactions between children and strangers online.
The announcement comes amid a broader international push to strengthen online protections for minors.
Canada recently introduced legislation seeking to ban social media accounts for children under 16, while Indonesia began enforcing a similar restriction earlier this year. Several European countries are also considering comparable measures.
The UK government has further warned technology companies to implement stronger protections against the sharing of explicit images involving minors. Officials said firms that fail to introduce adequate safety features could face new legal requirements.
According to the government, the proposed reforms are intended to protect children from online exploitation, abuse, and harmful content while creating a safer digital environment for young users.
