The British government announced plans on Monday to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, setting the stage for new online safety regulations aimed at protecting young people. The proposed ban is expected to be introduced in Parliament before Christmas, with enforcement beginning in early 2027.

The restrictions will extend beyond social media to include gaming platforms and livestreaming services, with further details scheduled for release next month. Platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X will be targeted, while messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal will be exempt.

Starmer emphasized the government’s commitment to children’s safety, describing the ban as a necessary measure despite acknowledging potential challenges and costs associated with its implementation. “Government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice,” he said during a news briefing.

The announcement follows a period of increasing public and political pressure to address the risks posed by online content to children’s well-being. A December YouGov poll indicated that 74 percent of Britons supported banning social media access for those under 16. The government also received over 116,000 responses in a public consultation conducted in March, with 90 percent of parents favoring a minimum age limit of 16 and 85 percent expressing concerns that the harms of social media outweigh the benefits.

The policy will take cues from a similar Australian ban implemented in December, though experts caution that Australia’s measures have so far had limited success in preventing teenagers from using social media platforms. Despite this, some commentators argue that longer-term effects may emerge as younger children are kept off platforms earlier.

In addition to the access ban, the government plans to introduce restrictions aimed at preventing children under 16 from livestreaming and communicating with strangers on gaming and other online services. Discussions are also underway about implementing overnight curfews and breaks designed to disrupt continuous scrolling for users under 18.

Reaction to the plan has been mixed. Some parents and advocacy groups welcomed the move. Justine Roberts, founder of the parenting forum Mumsnet, described it as “a huge moment for children’s online safety,” while Joe Ryrie of the charity Smartphone Free Childhood called it “a turning point” in the fight against the influence of addictive technology on youth.

However, critics raised concerns about the ban’s practicality and effectiveness. Ian Russell, an online safety campaigner whose daughter died by suicide after exposure to harmful content online, criticized the policy as a “politically expedient blanket ban” that sidesteps the need for platforms to remove damaging material. Others pointed to the possibility that restrictive measures could drive young users to unregulated alternatives.

Industry groups expressed opposition as well. The Computer and Communications Industry Association warned that blanket restrictions could limit access to age-appropriate experiences and encourage riskier behavior. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, emphasized its efforts to enhance teen safety features and underscored the importance of robust age verification systems. YouTube highlighted its investments in age-appropriate protections for young users and framed its platform as an educational resource.

The UK’s move aligns with broader international conversations about children’s online access. At a Group of Seven meeting in France on Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that many countries are reviewing how to limit exposure to social media, underscoring the global scope of concerns surrounding youth internet safety.