Britain Set to Ban Social Media for Under-16s

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce on Monday a ban on social media use for children under 16. According to reports in The Guardian and the Financial Times, the government has finished reviewing its options and is ready to unveil the policy in a special speech.

The plan would cover a broad range of platforms, modeled on Australia’s approach. Services expected to be included are TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch and Kick. Gaming apps would not be banned outright, but providers would have to remove features such as the ability for young users to chat with strangers.

The new policy would also bar people under 18 from accessing chatbots with romantic or sexual content, and it aims to curb late-night scrolling. The government may be able to enforce some parts of the move through existing regulatory powers, but full implementation could require new legislation.

The move comes amid intensifying debate over the effect of social media on children and teenagers. The mother of Brianna Ghey, the teenager who was murdered, has called for a ban on social networks for British teens, saying her daughter’s eating disorders and abusive behavior were “significantly worsened by the harmful content she consumed online.” Critics, however, argue that such bans could harm privacy, isolate children, and promise unproven mental health benefits.