UK plans to prohibit social‑media access for users under 16.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to prohibit children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as one of the world’s most stringent measures to safeguard young people from harmful online content.

The proposed legislation, which is expected to be introduced before the end of the year and take effect in 2027, would block access to services such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and X. It would also impose stricter controls on online gaming, livestreaming services and interactions between children and strangers.

Starmer said the decision was driven by mounting evidence that social media negatively impacts children’s mental health and exposes them to addictive and harmful material.

In a televised address yesterday, the Prime Minister argued that the government could no longer ignore the risks facing young people online and pledged what officials called “world‑leading action” to strengthen digital safety protections.

Under the proposals, messaging services such as WhatsApp are expected to remain exempt. The government is also considering additional safeguards, including overnight curfews for young users and measures to curb infinite scrolling on platforms used by minors. Further details are expected to be released in July.

The announcement follows a government consultation in which teenagers tested social media restrictions and app‑based time‑limit tools.

Officials reported overwhelming support from parents, many of whom called for stronger measures to limit children’s exposure to online harms.

Starmer said the UK’s approach was partly influenced by Australia, which became the first country to ban social media access for users under 16 in December.

Britain plans to go further by restricting livestreaming and online interactions between children and strangers across gaming platforms and other digital services.

“We’re not prepared to stand by while harmful content and addictive online experiences continue to affect our children,” Starmer said, adding that stronger safeguards were needed to protect young people in the digital world just as they are in physical spaces.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that some children might still find ways to bypass the restrictions but insisted that this should not prevent government action.

He compared the proposed ban to existing laws that prohibit the sale of alcohol to minors, arguing that enforcement challenges do not invalidate the need for regulation.

The move comes amid growing international momentum for stricter controls on children’s social media use.

Countries such as Canada and Indonesia have recently introduced or proposed similar restrictions, while several European nations are considering comparable measures.

If approved, the legislation would place Britain among the global leaders in regulating children’s access to social media and reshape online safety standards for the digital age.