U.K. government plans social media ban for children under 16

On Monday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the U.K. government will impose a ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age. Starmer indicated that the ban could be in place by next spring. The proposed policy is set to apply to a range of social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. However, messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will be excluded from the ban. Additionally, the government plans to restrict AI romantic companion chatbots—which are AI tools designed for emotional interaction—to users over 18.

The British government stated in a press release that the changes are intended to return power to parents and provide children with the childhood they deserve. In explaining the rationale behind the policy, Starmer stated, “Every parent can see it with their own eyes, social media is making children unhappy.” He argued that social media is making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and could even be harming their mental health. According to Starmer, these platforms expose children to content that is dangerous because that is what grabs their attention. He also noted that these platforms are designed to be addictive, using features like the infinite scroll—a UI feature designed to increase engagement—to lock users in for hours.

The announcement of the ban follows a consultation conducted by the British government to gather views from the public. More than 83% of parents who participated in the consultation said that social media’s risks outweigh its benefits.

The U.K. is joining a growing list of nations exploring similar restrictions on youth social media access. Australia became the first country to impose a similar ban late last year. Other nations, including Canada, France, and Denmark, have also started developing their own bans to safeguard children online.

Why it matters

The U.K. government is moving to implement a sweeping ban on social media for users under 16, citing concerns over mental health and addictive features, marking a significant escalation in global efforts to regulate children’s online safety.