Britain to ban under-16s from major social media platforms

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday a sweeping ban on social media use for children under 16, targeting apps such as Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. The move is intended to protect young people from harmful content and excessive screen time, which Starmer said contributes to unhappiness among children. He said he would not compromise on children’s safety and wellbeing.

The restriction is expected to take effect at the start of next year and will apply to major platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. It will not cover YouTube Kids or messaging services such as WhatsApp. Britain said it would follow a model similar to Australia, which became the first country to ban social media accounts for under-16s.

Technology companies that fail to enforce the ban could face fines of millions of dollars, with enforcement aimed at the companies rather than the children. The decision came after a public consultation in which more than 90% of respondents backed the ban. Child welfare groups welcomed the plan, while critics raised concerns about data privacy.

The UK move is part of a broader international push to increase online safety for children, with Australia, Canada and France already imposing or considering restrictions. The United States has warned that such regulation could limit free speech and place a burden on American technology firms. Starmer said he expects to discuss the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit in France, adding that protecting children is not a controversial issue. He said success would be measured by a sharp drop in the number of children on social media and by a cultural shift.