Key points from today’s announcement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer about an incoming social media ban for under-16s.
If the proposal is passed in parliament, by Spring 2027, under-16s will be banned from using social media apps. The Government plans to follow Australia’s model which includes all applications that, ‘capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material, alongside algorithms.’
There isn’t a full list of platforms that will be included in the ban but the Government press release does mention that it will include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X but will not include ‘messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal’. The Government has also said it will publish a ‘narrow list of exemptions’ to ensure the ban doesn’t include educational services, e-commerce platforms or music streaming. Additionally, there will be other default restrictions on a wider range of online services such as gaming sites, blocking live streaming and stranger communication. These restrictions will also be on by default for 16-17 year olds.
The Government is also considering ‘overnight curfews’ and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s. It will also be looking to enforce a minimum age of 18 on AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots and similar functionalities on other AI chatbots.
Speaking on the ban, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever. I’ve heard first-hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them. That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back. This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”
More details of the proposal will be set out in July and the proposal is expected to be presented to parliament before Christmas.
Response to the ban
The Government has said the ban is ‘backed by 9 in 10 parents’. However, concerns have been raised. For example, Ian Russell, whose daughter took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, commented that ‘sledgehammer techniques like bans only cause more problems.’
Additionally, it’s been raised that the ban could have a disproportionate impact on some groups. For example, organisations representing young disabled people, such as The Royal Society for Blind Children, have shared how these communities can be lifelines to connection and friendship for children who are already too often excluded.
Platforms such as YouTube have shared concerns around young people using alternative services that could put them at risk, explaining: ‘YouTube is a vital resource for young people, educators and parents. Blanket bans push kids out of such curated, supervised, beneficial experiences and towards anonymous, less safe services.’
Campaign group, Big Brother Group, has raised concerns specifically about age verification checks, explaining that, ‘Effectively social media sites will become digital ID checkpoints’ and commenting that it is ‘to teach children to send photos of themselves for age verification checks when companies ask them to’.
Interestingly, there are also questions around if Australia’s social media ban can be considered successful. Journalist, Katy Watson explains: “If you were to ask Australia’s teens, then it would be a resounding no – most, anecdotally, seem to still be on it.” She shares that parents may be more split, but tech experts mostly agree with the teens’ viewpoint. Importantly, she notes that as the legislation only came into force six months ago, data is very limited and that getting a real picture of what the ban has achieved ‘will take several years to understand.’
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References
- Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back (Accessed 15 June 2026)
