UK government proposes ban on social-media use for under-16s

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a ban on social-media use for anyone under 16 will be introduced, describing it as a "landmark" step for the country. The proposal would block access to platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, while messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal would remain available.

The government plans to bring the measures before Parliament by Christmas, with implementation anticipated in the spring. In addition to the age restriction, the policy would prohibit livestreaming and stranger-initiated communications for under-16 users.

"Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore," Starmer said in a recorded video message.

The announcement follows a public consultation that received more than 116,000 responses, with 83% of participating parents indicating that the risks of social-media use outweigh the benefits and 90% supporting a minimum age of 16. Enforcement could be challenging, as children often circumvent age-verification systems.

The UK also unveiled a £132.5 million "Every Child Can" programme to fund extracurricular activities in schools and communities as an alternative to screen time. Concurrently, Starmer has asked technology firms to introduce safeguards that would block the creation, sharing, or viewing of nude images by minors, giving companies three months to comply before legislation is introduced.

The proposal aligns with similar measures adopted in Australia, where a ban on under-16s has faced enforcement difficulties, and reflects broader international pressure to curb perceived mental-health harms linked to excessive online use.