UK government to ban social media for under-16s, with curbs for older teens

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new policy that will prohibit children under 16 from using social-media platforms and introduce further limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, including a night-time curfew on access. The plan, described by officials as “Australia Plus,” mirrors Australia’s recent age-based ban but adds restrictions for older teenagers.

The government said the measures aim to protect young people from harmful online content, noting that existing parental-control tools have not been sufficient.

“We know some teens under the age of 18 still drink, but we also know there are plenty of times when the law prevents it,” Starmer said at the Downing Street briefing.

Industry representatives indicated that the enforcement mechanism is still being defined, with expectations that platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and others will be required to block access for under-16 users rather than relying on device-level controls from Apple or Google. Companies have been given less than a year to develop compliance solutions before the policy is set to take effect next spring.

Critics argue that age-verification challenges and the potential migration of young users to less regulated online spaces could limit the policy’s effectiveness. Some experts suggest that broader societal approaches, rather than a technology-focused ban, may be needed to address toxic online behaviour.

The announcement follows a period of public consultation and has raised questions about possible legal challenges and the impact on the UK’s relationship with major tech firms.