Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that Britain is the latest country after Australia to implement a complete social media ban for children under 16. The ban, which could take effect as early as next year, would join broader measures that would also prevent children from playing online games, livestreaming, or talking to strangers in sexual or romantic chatbots.
“Do we really believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children? Do we really believe that it is a place where they can feel safe?” Starmer asked during a news conference announcing the policy. “I don’t think I need to answer those questions, do I?”
“Every parent can see it with their own eyes,” he said. “Social media is making kids miserable. It’s making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it can also harm their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous because that’s what gets the attention. It’s designed to be addictive – of course it is. Features like infinite scroll – they’re designed to keep you locked in for hours.”
The banned social media apps will include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, although messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal will not be covered. “Romantic partner chatbots” would have to enforce a minimum age of 18, and “intimate functionalities” on more general AI tools would have to be restricted to people under 18. Along with restrictions on games and livestreaming platforms, the UK government said in a statement that its new policy would “go further than any other country” in restricting children’s time online.
The restrictions may eventually go even further, with the government also considering “an overnight curfew and a break in infinite scrolling for children under 18”, to be announced next month.
UK communications regulator Ofcom is tasked with determining the best age verification measure for the policy. The UK has required extensive age verification measures since last summer under the Online Safety Act, which requires certain websites to limit access to people under 18 to prevent them accessing pornography or material considered dangerous. Age verification typically requires users to either upload credit card information or a government ID, or agree to a face scan to estimate their age.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said, “Tech companies have countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they are failing to act.” “That’s why we’re taking the power away from the tech giants and putting it back into the hands of parents.”
The government says legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament before the end of the year, and the first set of rules could come into effect from spring 2027. Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s took effect in December 2025, and several governments around the world, including Canada, France, Spain and Denmark, are now developing or considering similar laws.
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