Britain Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban social media use for children under 16, part of what he called one of the world’s broadest restrictions on children’s online activity. The proposed rules would also cover gaming and live-streaming platforms, while messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal would remain outside the ban.

At a press conference, Starmer said, "It is clear to me that a total ban is the right choice." He added that the move would "make a huge difference, make our children’s lives safer and happier, and give them more time, more confidence, more freedom to grow and more opportunities." He also said the government would target platforms and services that let children talk to strangers online, asking, "Would you in the offline world let your child connect with a stranger, an adult you know nothing about? No, so we are acting on this."

The restrictions are expected to apply to services including TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X, Snapchat and Instagram, and Britain says it already has powers to take initial steps. The government expects the regulation to be completed by the end of the year and for the ban to take effect around next spring. In recent years, Britain has tightened pressure on tech companies to verify ages, adjust algorithms and prevent children from circulating nude images taken on phones.

The decision followed wide consultations with teachers, parents and teenagers, drawing more than 116,000 responses. More than 83% of parents who answered said the risks of social media outweigh the benefits, and 90% supported setting 16 as the minimum age. Starmer said he also studied Australia’s approach, after it became the first country in December to bar under-16s from platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Still, some psychologists and researchers say there is no proof that a blanket ban works, noting that young people can often evade restrictions, including by using VPNs. British students interviewed on a BBC school broadcast were largely dismissive of the plan, and one girl said she would spend the extra time by "stare at the wall."