The U.K. government plans to ban children under 16 from several major social media platforms as part of a wider effort to reduce online harms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the policy responds to concerns about bullying, addictive design, unwanted contact from strangers and possible effects on mental health. A government consultation held from March to May found broad parental support, with nine in 10 parents backing a full ban.
The proposal is expected to follow Australia’s model, covering platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X. YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, WhatsApp and Signal are expected to be exempt. The government also plans age restrictions for livestreaming services, some gaming-related services and AI romantic companion chatbots, which would be limited to users aged 18 and over.
Regulations are due before Parliament by the end of the year, with implementation expected in spring 2027. Ofcom will develop age-assurance standards intended to be accurate and fair. Some adults may avoid checks if their accounts already provide age signals, while others may face verification, potentially including facial recognition. Officials are also considering measures such as overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling for under-18s.
Technology companies have criticized blanket restrictions, arguing they may push young users toward less regulated spaces and cut them off from communities, information and private communication with friends and family. Some experts say evidence links social media to harm in individual cases, including exposure to damaging content, addictive design and reduced physical activity. Others caution that population-level evidence is more mixed and that youth mental health trends have multiple causes.
Australia’s experience suggests enforcement may be difficult. Its regulator found many under-16s still retained accounts months after restrictions began, often because platforms had not requested age checks. Supporters say millions of accounts have nonetheless been removed or restricted.