Britain Moves to Ban Under-16s From Major Social Media Platforms

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the British government plans to bar children and teenagers under 16 from using major social media platforms, in one of the most sweeping measures yet aimed at Big Tech. He said new legislation is expected to pass by the end of this year and begin enforcement in spring 2027.

Starmer called the move a "red line" meant to protect children and give parents better tools to deal with digital life. Speaking at his residence at 10 Downing Street, he said tech companies had been given a chance to solve the problem on their own, but failed, so the state must step in. He compared the proposed restrictions to bans on alcohol sales to minors, saying laws also express social values and norms.

The plan goes beyond social networks and would also cover gaming apps and other services. Under the proposal, under-16s would be blocked from chatting with strangers, livestreaming, or using romantic chatbots. The government says the system would be stricter than any similar model used anywhere else so far. Platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X would have to block under-16 access by default, while messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram are not expected to be affected.

The British model is based in part on Australian legislation that took effect in December 2025. Britain says nine in 10 parents supported a minimum age of 16 for social media in a public consultation launched earlier this year under the banner "Growing up in the online world." British officials visited Australia to study the law, and figures presented there showed Meta closed about 550,000 accounts soon after the law began. Final rules and enforcement will be handled by Ofcom with lawmakers, but details on age verification and implementation have not yet been published.