LONDON, United Kingdom — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, marking one of the most far-reaching attempts by a major democracy to regulate young people’s online activity.
The proposed measure, which Starmer said he hopes to pass by the end of the year and implement in spring 2027, would prohibit under-16s from using major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.
The move comes amid growing international concern about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, online safety and exposure to harmful content.
“Social media is making children unhappy,” Starmer said while unveiling the proposal. He argued that many platforms are designed to be addictive and increasingly expose young users to inappropriate and potentially harmful material.
According to the UK government, the proposed ban would apply to most mainstream social media networks but would not extend to messaging services such as WhatsApp.
Officials said the policy forms part of a broader digital safety strategy aimed at strengthening protections for children online.
Beyond social media restrictions, the government is also considering additional safeguards, including overnight access curfews for minors and measures to limit endless scrolling features that encourage prolonged screen time among young users.
Further details are expected to be released in July.
Starmer also signalled that the government intends to tighten regulations governing gaming services and live-streaming platforms, particularly those that enable direct interaction between children and strangers.
“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger? An adult that you don’t know about? No. So we’re taking action on that,” he said.
The British proposal follows similar measures introduced elsewhere around the world, particularly in Australia, which became the first country to enact a nationwide social media ban for children under 16.
Starmer said the Australian experience helped shape the UK’s approach, as governments increasingly grapple with the challenges posed by digital platforms to child welfare.
Canada has also recently introduced legislation seeking to restrict social media access for minors and impose stricter obligations on technology companies and artificial intelligence services to prevent harmful content from reaching children.
Indonesia began enforcing its own restrictions on social media use by under-16s earlier this year, while several European governments are considering comparable measures.
The proposal follows a government consultation that attracted approximately 116,000 responses, making it one of the largest public consultations in recent British history.
According to government figures, more than 83 percent of participating parents said the risks associated with social media outweighed the benefits for children, while 91 percent supported introducing a minimum age requirement of 16.
The findings reflect growing parental concerns about cyberbullying, online exploitation, excessive screen time, exposure to harmful content and the psychological effects of social media use.
Mental health experts have increasingly linked excessive social media use among adolescents to anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and reduced self-esteem, although researchers continue to debate the scale and nature of the impact.
The proposals have already drawn criticism from some technology companies.
A spokesperson for YouTube warned that a blanket ban could produce unintended consequences by driving young users toward less regulated platforms or services that offer fewer safety protections.
Technology firms have traditionally argued that age verification systems, parental controls and content moderation tools offer a more balanced solution than outright bans.
The UK government, however, maintains that stronger intervention is necessary to address growing online safety concerns.
The proposed social media ban comes just days after the British government announced plans to force major technology companies to prevent children from creating, sending or receiving nude images on their devices.
Under the initiative, companies including Apple and Google have been given three months to introduce enhanced safety features designed to block the creation and sharing of explicit content involving minors.
Ministers have warned that legislation could follow if technology firms fail to comply voluntarily.
The government said such measures are intended to combat online grooming, sextortion and child sexual exploitation.
According to data cited by officials from the Internet Watch Foundation, 91 percent of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 involved self-generated content created by children themselves.
The UK’s proposal is likely to intensify the global debate over how governments should balance child protection, digital rights and freedom of expression in an increasingly connected world.
Also Read: Australia enforces world-first social media ban for under-16s
Supporters argue that stronger restrictions are necessary to shield children from harmful content, addictive platform designs and online predators.
Critics, however, warn that enforcement challenges, privacy concerns and potential limitations on access to information could complicate implementation.
If approved, Britain would join a growing list of countries adopting tougher measures to regulate children’s access to digital platforms, potentially reshaping how millions of young people interact with social media in the years ahead.
