The UK government announced a ban on social media access for children under 16, a decision made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following a public consultation. The legislation is expected to be passed by the end of 2023 and enforced starting in spring 2027. This initiative aims to protect children and support parents amidst growing concerns over online safety.
The ban will restrict access to major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, alongside gaming apps that allow communication with strangers, live streaming, or romantic chatbots for users under 16. “These restrictions go further than any other country,” Starmer stated during his announcement, emphasizing a firm stance on online safety.
The UK’s approach will mirror that of Australia, where a similar ban will require platforms to disable access for under-16 users by default. However, chat applications like WhatsApp and Telegram will not fall under this ban. The government is also considering additional restrictions for individuals under 18, which may include overnight curfews and breaks from infinite scrolling.
Starmer acknowledged the potential for children to circumvent these rules but insisted on the necessity of such laws. He remarked, “We don’t say, ‘Oh, look, a teenager managed to get a drink somehow, so let’s not bother banning alcohol sales for children.’ Our laws are rules, but they’re also an expression of our values.”
The government launched the “Growing up in the online world” consultation in January to gather public feedback on regulating social media age limits. Findings showed that 90% of parents favored a minimum age of 16 for social media access. Ministers also studied Australia’s implementation, which led to Meta shutting down approximately 550,000 accounts in compliance after the ban took effect on December 10, 2025.
Starmer noted that the ban does not position the UK in opposition to technology, stating, “I will never accept that you can’t be both pro tech and AI, and at the same time say we must protect our children.” The tech regulator Ofcom will design detailed rules and enforce the ban, working with lawmakers. Ofcom has been instrumental in advancing online safety measures, including age verification and protections against grooming, but insists that additional action is necessary to keep users safe.
Details regarding identification verification and other enforcement methods for the new regulations remain unspecified as the legislation moves forward.
