Britain unveils sweeping ban on social media for under-16s

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a sweeping ban on social media use for those under 16, joining other countries around the world seeking to protect children online.

“It’s a big step for our country,” Starmer said in a recorded video message released Monday. “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,” he added.

The ban will include social platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, while there is no intention for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included, the government said in a release.

Starmer’s government had been considering tougher limits on children’s social media as governments around the world face growing pressure to curb young people’s time online.

The push gained momentum after Australia became the first country to pass a law barring children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, an effort aimed at addressing the concerns about the physical and mental health effects of excessive online use.

The announcement also follows a national consultation survey that received more than 116,000 responses between March 2 and May 26 and solicited public opinions on children’s use of technology.

More than 83% of parents who responded said the risks of social media use outweigh the benefits, according to the consultation, and 90% expressed support for a minimum age of 16 before children can access social media platforms.

Enforcement has historically been difficult, however, as children often find ways around age limits imposed by technology companies.

Starmer’s government called Monday’s announcement a “landmark” move, saying the new measures would be brought to Parliament before Christmas, with protections expected to come into force next spring.

Beyond the blanket social media ban, the restrictions will also include blocks on functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s, it added.

“It’s not an easy thing to do. I’ll be honest about that,” Starmer said of the new measures. “We haven’t rushed into it. We’ve looked carefully at the evidence, and we’ll have to adapt our approach as technology changes, learn from other countries which are taking similar steps,” he said.

The decision has been resisted, and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world, Starmer added. “But we will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer.”

In Australia, those under 16 are now prohibited from using platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat and Reddit. But since the ban took effect in December, authorities have struggled to enforce it. Australia’s eSafety Commission, its top internet regulator, found in March that 7 in 10 parents reported their child still had an account on newly restricted platforms.

Over the weekend, the U.K. announced a new £132.5 million “Every Child Can” program to fund “enriching activities” across sports, art and nature in schools and in local communities as an alternative to scrolling on digital devices.

Last week, Starmer asked tech companies, including Apple and Google, to implement measures that would make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images, part of a broader push to reduce online harms. The companies have three months to implement changes before the U.K. introduces legislation that forces them to do so, according to a government news release.

“This will prevent predators from being able to exploit and abuse victims through their devices, as well as stopping children from being able to access pornography,” the news release stated. “Adults will still be able to take, share or view nude content through an age verification process.”

Apple also recently rolled out age checks for U.K.-based iPhone and iPad users, requiring individuals to either verify their age with an ID or credit card or have automatic content filters activated on their device.

In the United States, major social media companies face a growing number of lawsuits alleging they have contributed to mental health harms among children and failed to protect them from online predators.

A key tool in many of the proposed restrictions is mandatory age verification, which can require a government-issued ID or AI-powered technology that estimates a user’s age through facial analysis.

Supporters argue such measures are necessary to protect children from harmful content, including pornography. But critics say they raise concerns around privacy and free expression online.

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