UK to prohibit under-16s from major social-media platforms
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on children under 16 using several social-media apps, citing child safety concerns, with enforcement expected early next year.
London – The United Kingdom will bar users younger than 16 from creating accounts on a range of social-media services, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The policy, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is slated to take effect early next year and will be enforced through fines on companies that fail to implement reasonable age-verification measures. Platforms such as YouTube Kids and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are excluded.
Starmer said the government will also act to prevent strangers from contacting minors on gaming and livestreaming services and is considering additional safeguards such as overnight curfews and limits on continuous scrolling for users under 18. Details are expected in the coming weeks.
The proposal follows a public consultation that received more than 116,000 responses, with over 90% supporting an under-16 ban. Child-safety charities welcomed the move but urged robust age-check systems, while privacy advocates warned about data-protection risks associated with verification providers. A YouTube spokesperson cautioned that a blanket restriction could push children toward less-supervised services.
The United Kingdom’s approach mirrors recent legislation in Australia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia, and joins ongoing discussions in France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea. The U.S. Embassy in London expressed concern that the rules could impinge on free-speech protections and increase burdens on American tech firms. Starmer indicated he will raise the issue with international leaders at the upcoming G7 summit.
"Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy," Starmer said at a news conference.
"I honestly think that across world leaders, there has always been a recognition that leaders have to take steps to protect children," he added.
Experts noted that while the intent is well-meaning, technical challenges could drive some users to riskier sites, and that policing devices is difficult compared with regulating platforms.