The United Kingdom will implement a ban on social-media use for children under 16 beginning early next year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday, joining a growing number of countries including Canada and Australia in introducing age-based restrictions on popular online platforms.
The forthcoming regulation will prohibit minors under 16 from accessing apps such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Threads. In addition to the ban, the government plans to introduce limits on daily social-media use for 16- and 17-year-olds aimed at curbing late-night scrolling. Restrictions will also cover communication with strangers on platforms outside the ban’s scope, including certain gaming applications.
“We are taking a significant step to protect the safety and happiness of our children,” Starmer said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to the new measures. The regulations are scheduled to be finalized by the end of this year, with enforcement expected to commence in early 2027.
Details about enforcement mechanisms remain limited, but Starmer indicated that social-media companies will face penalties for non-compliance. He also acknowledged the challenges involved in preventing underage use, noting that while some will find ways to circumvent the rules, enforcement efforts will be improved rather than abandoned. The government plans to deploy “highly effective age assurance” systems, potentially including facial age estimation technologies already used for age-restricted content.
The announcement follows a consultation held in the spring during which over 39,000 parents participated, with more than 90 percent supporting restrictions on underage social-media use.
Similar measures have been introduced elsewhere: Australia implemented the world’s first nationwide ban on social-media platforms for under-16s in December 2025, encompassing 10 major apps. However, a March report by Australia’s Safety Commissioner reported challenges in enforcing the ban, with many children maintaining or creating accounts despite restrictions. A poll there indicated that nearly 70 percent of parents whose children had accounts before the ban believed they still had access to several major platforms.
Canada has proposed legislation requiring companies to block under-16 users but allows for exemptions if adequate safeguards are demonstrated.
The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, stated it is prepared to collaborate closely with industry stakeholders as the details of the regulations are developed.
Reactions to the announcement have been mixed. Ellen Roome, whose son died following a dangerous online challenge, praised the government’s stance as a significant move to protect children. Conversely, critics argue that the ban may offer limited protection without substantial reforms from social-media companies themselves. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, cautioned that the ban might create a false sense of security while allowing children to continue accessing harmful content on unregulated or high-risk sites.
Mr. Starmer’s announcement comes days ahead of a key by-election in a Manchester-area constituency, an event closely watched amid increasing pressure on his leadership within the Labour Party. Despite calls from some Labour MPs for him to step down and recent cabinet resignations, including Defence Secretary John Healey, Starmer rejected suggestions that the timing of the ban announcement was politically motivated. “This is a statement of values, who we are as a country,” he said.