UK bans under-16s from TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms

UK Bans Social Media for Under-16s in Sweeping New Law

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that the United Kingdom will ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, calling it “a big moment for our country” in what the government described as the most far-reaching online child safety measure adopted by any nation.theguardian

What the Ban Covers

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Starmer said the prohibition will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, and X, but not messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal. The government will also act to prevent strangers from contacting children on gaming and livestreaming platforms.bbc

Starmer said legislation would be finalized before Christmas, with the ban taking effect in spring 2027. “We anticipate that we will be able to enact the regulations prior to Christmas, which would allow us to enforce the ban in the early part of next year, likely around spring,” Starmer told reporters, according to Reuters.lemonde

The measures are intended to go further than Australia’s existing ban on under-16s holding social media accounts, with Starmer noting the UK approach “possibly goes a bit further” by incorporating restrictions on livestreaming and AI chatbots.timesofisrael

Public Mandate

The announcement followed a three-month public consultation that closed on May 26 and drew more than 116,000 responses — the second-largest government consultation in UK history after one on equal marriage in 2012. Around 90 percent of the 39,116 parents who participated backed an under-16 ban, according to Downing Street. Over 83 percent of all respondents agreed that the risks of social media for children outweigh its benefits.bbc

Reactions and Next Steps

Amnesty International criticized the approach on Sunday as “the right diagnosis, wrong prescription,” warning that a blanket ban could create unintended complications for children’s rights. Technology companies face the prospect of fines and enforcement action if they resist compliance, with Starmer warning he would “fight back” against any opposition from the industry.amnesty

The legislation builds on months of parliamentary pressure. The House of Lords twice voted in favor of an under-16 ban — first in January and again in March — pushing the government toward more decisive action. Starmer had initially stopped short of committing to a full ban when he launched the consultation in February, saying only that action would come in “months, not years”.theguardian