British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, in a sweeping move aimed at addressing concerns over mental health, online safety, and harmful digital content.
The proposed legislation would affect platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and X, as the UK government moves to tighten control over children’s online activities.
Government Targets Harmful Online Exposure
Announcing the policy on Monday, Starmer said social media platforms were contributing to declining mental wellbeing among young people by exposing them to addictive algorithms and inappropriate content.
“We will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16,” the Prime Minister said, adding that many platforms were “making children unhappy” and encouraging excessive screen time.
He explained that the government intends to pass the legislation before the end of the year, with implementation expected by spring next year.
Messaging services such as WhatsApp are expected to be exempt from the proposed restrictions.
Additional Restrictions Under Consideration
Beyond the social media ban, the UK government is also considering broader online safety measures.
These include overnight usage curfews for minors, mandatory breaks from infinite scrolling features, and stricter regulations for gaming platforms and livestreaming services that allow interaction with strangers.
Starmer stressed the need for stronger protections, questioning the safety of allowing children to interact freely with unknown adults online.
“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger? No,” he said, defending the proposed reforms.
Growing Global Push For Online Protection
The UK’s move follows similar policies in other countries, including Australia, which recently introduced a nationwide ban on social media access for users under 16.
The British government also cited a major public consultation involving around 116,000 participants, making it one of the largest in the country’s history.
According to official data, more than 83 per cent of parents said the risks of social media outweigh the benefits, while 91 per cent supported setting 16 as the minimum age for platform access.
Tech Companies Push Back
Reacting to the proposal, YouTube warned that a blanket ban could have unintended consequences, arguing that it might push young users toward less regulated and potentially more dangerous platforms.
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Despite such concerns, the UK government maintains that tech companies have a responsibility to ensure stronger safeguards for children online.
Wider Crackdown On Online Harm
The announcement comes just days after the UK government warned major tech firms, including Apple and Google, to implement stronger protections preventing minors from sending or receiving nude images on devices.
Companies have been given a deadline to comply or face potential legislation.
Authorities say the broader strategy is aimed at tackling online exploitation, sextortion, grooming, and child abuse.
The UK joins countries such as Canada and Indonesia, which have also introduced or are considering similar restrictions on children’s access to social media, as global concerns grow over digital safety and mental health impacts.