The United Kingdom has unveiled plans for a sweeping social media ban that will prevent children under 16 from accessing major platforms, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the move is necessary to protect young people from harmful online content.
Announcing the policy on Monday, Starmer said social media platforms have increasingly exposed children to bullying, abuse and potentially damaging material, raising concerns about their wellbeing and mental health.
Speaking as a father of two, the prime minister said parents across the country share growing fears about the impact of social media on young people.
“Social media is making children unhappy. It’s making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health,” Starmer said.
Under the proposed law, children under 16 will be barred from using major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram Facebook, YouTube, and X.
However, messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will be exempt from the restrictions.
The government also plans to tighten protections for teenagers by blocking under-18s from using “romantic chatbots” and imposing restrictions on artificial intelligence chatbots. Additional measures will limit contact with strangers through gaming platforms and live-streaming services.
According to a government statement, restrictions on these features will be enabled by default for 16- and 17-year-olds. Officials are also examining overnight social media curfews and measures to interrupt endless scrolling, with further details expected in July.
Starmer said he hopes the legislation will pass before Christmas, allowing the restrictions to take effect in spring next year. Responsibility for enforcing the ban will rest with technology companies rather than children, meaning young people who bypass the rules will not face penalties.
The UK government said nine in ten parents support the proposed ban, while separate polling by YouGov found that 77 per cent of parents backed the measure.
The announcement follows several high-profile cases in which children reportedly suffered severe online harassment or were exposed to harmful content. Campaigners and bereaved families have repeatedly called for stronger safeguards to protect young users.
The UK move comes months after Australia introduced similar legislation restricting children’s access to social media platforms.
