The United Kingdom is set to introduce a nationwide ban preventing children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday.
Starmer said the move was aimed at protecting young people from harmful online content and the addictive nature of social media, arguing that many platforms were negatively affecting children’s well-being.
Under the proposed regulation, children under 16 would be barred from using major social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging applications such as WhatsApp would be exempt from the restriction.
The British government hopes to secure parliamentary approval for the measure by the end of December, with implementation expected in the spring of next year.
In addition to the social media ban, the government is considering stricter safeguards for young internet users, including overnight usage restrictions and mandatory breaks from endless scrolling features for those under 18. Further details are expected in July.
Starmer noted that the proposal was partly inspired by Australia, which became the first country to prohibit social media access for children under 16 in December.
The announcement follows a government consultation in which teenagers tested social media restrictions and app time limits. The exercise attracted about 116,000 submissions, making it one of the largest public consultations in the country’s history.
According to the government, more than 83 per cent of participating parents said the risks associated with social media outweighed its benefits, while 91 per cent supported setting the minimum access age at 16.
Reacting to the proposal, a spokesperson for YouTube warned that a blanket ban could drive children toward less secure online platforms.
The government also signalled plans to tighten regulations on gaming and live-streaming services that allow children to interact with strangers online. Starmer stressed that such measures were necessary to improve child safety in digital spaces.
The proposed restrictions come amid a broader international push to regulate children’s online activities. Canada recently introduced legislation seeking to prevent children under 16 from holding social media accounts, while Indonesia began enforcing a similar ban in March. Several European countries are also considering comparable measures.
Meanwhile, the UK government has directed technology companies, including Apple and Google, to introduce tools within three months that would prevent children from creating, sending or viewing nude images on their devices. Officials warned that legislation could be introduced if the companies fail to comply.
The Labour government said technology firms have a moral obligation to protect children from online abuse, coercion and sextortion. It added that planned legal reforms would further restrict children’s access to pornography and make it more difficult for predators to target young people online.
Government figures, citing data from the Internet Watch Foundation, revealed that 91 per cent of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 involved self-generated content created by children themselves.
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