UK Targets TikTok, Instagram, Others in New Under-16 Social Media Ban

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, citing growing concerns over the impact of online content on young people’s mental health and well-being.

Speaking on Monday, Starmer said social media platforms were exposing children to harmful and addictive content, adding that the government was determined to take stronger measures to protect minors online.

Under the proposed legislation, users below the age of 16 would be barred from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X. Messaging applications such as WhatsApp are expected to be exempt from the restrictions.

The Prime Minister disclosed that the legislation is expected to be passed before the end of the year, with implementation planned for spring 2027.

Beyond social media, the UK government is also considering tougher regulations for online gaming and live-streaming platforms, particularly those that allow direct interaction between children and strangers. Proposed measures include overnight usage limits and restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling for users under 18.

Starmer said the decision was influenced by developments in other countries, notably Australia, which became the first nation to introduce a social media ban for under-16s in December.

The announcement followed a government-led consultation involving teenagers, who tested various social media restriction tools and screen-time controls.

Reacting to the proposal, YouTube warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards less regulated and potentially more dangerous online services.

Emphasising the need for stronger safeguards, Starmer argued that children should enjoy the same level of protection online as they do in physical environments, noting that society would not ordinarily permit unrestricted interactions between children and unknown adults offline.