The United Kingdom has announced sweeping new legislation banning social media access for children under the age of 16, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as “world-leading action” to protect young users online.
Under the proposed law, major platforms including X, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok will be restricted for under-16s, as the government moves to tighten controls on user-to-user platforms that rely on social interaction and algorithm-driven content.
Announcing the policy, Starmer said the measures were aimed at safeguarding children from online harm and restoring what he called a healthier childhood experience.
“I want this message to be heard loud and clear. I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen, and why this ban will happen,” he said.
The government said the legislation would go further than Australia’s recently introduced restrictions, including limits on livestreaming, restrictions on stranger contact for under-16s, and proposed curfews for older teenagers. It also plans to introduce breaks in infinite scrolling and default safety settings for users aged 16 and 17 to avoid abrupt changes at adulthood.
AI “romantic companion” chatbots will also be restricted to users aged 18 and above under the new framework.
Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not included in the ban.
Officials said the government would adopt stricter age verification measures, with Ofcom tasked to assess effective methods for confirming whether users are over 16 and to set out an enforcement strategy.
A government survey cited by Starmer suggested that 90% of adults, alongside a majority of children, support stronger restrictions on social media use among minors.
The legislation is expected to be passed later this year and come into force in early 2027.
The move places the UK among the most restrictive Western countries on youth social media access, although it is expected to face scrutiny from major US technology companies, which have previously opposed similar measures.
The policy also comes at a politically sensitive moment for Starmer’s government as it continues to face internal pressure within Labour over leadership direction and policy choices.
Erizia Rubyjeana
