UK to ban social media for under-16s

The UK will introduce a full ban on social media for children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, as per a recent report by Reuters.

The prohibition, which is expected to be in force by next spring, will cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X, but not messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal.

Starmer told a press conference that the move would "give kids their childhood back" and make children "safer, happier, and more secure." In addition to the social media ban, the government will impose what it calls "world-leading blocks" on harmful functions like livestreaming and communication with strangers on gaming and streaming platforms aimed at under-16s, as per the report.

The UK will use a legislative model similar to Australia's, which enacted a ban for under-16s last December. The government said it already has the legal powers to begin the process, with regulation to follow by the end of the year and the ban itself in place around spring 2026.

The decision follows a public consultation that drew more than 116,000 responses. Over 83% of parents who replied said the risks of social media outweighed the benefits, and 90% supported a minimum age of 16. However, some psychologists and researchers have questioned whether a ban would be effective, and a group of schoolchildren told Reuters they had mixed feelings about the technology.

Starmer, who faces a potential leadership challenge in the coming weeks, said the public expected action, as per Reuters. "Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger, an adult that you don't know anything about? No, so we're taking action on that," he said.

The full details, including how age verification will work, have yet to be released.