By Boluwatife Oshadiya | June 15, 2026
Key Points
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a total ban on social media access for children under sixteen, covering platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X
- Legislation is expected before Parliament by late December, with the ban taking effect in spring 2027
- The move follows a government consultation that drew about 116,000 responses, with over 83 per cent of parents saying social media’s risks outweigh its benefits for children
Main Story
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced that the government will bar all children under sixteen from accessing social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from content he said is “designed to be addictive”.
The restriction will apply to platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, but will not extend to messaging services such as WhatsApp, according to a government statement. Starmer said he hoped to pass the regulation by late December, with the ban coming into force in spring next year.
Beyond social media, the government said it would also pursue “world-leading action” on gaming services and live-streaming platforms, and is considering overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling for users under eighteen, with further details due in July.
Starmer pointed to Australia’s experience as a key influence on the policy. Australia became the first country to bar under-16s from social media in December 2025. Indonesia introduced a similar restriction for under-16s in March, and several European governments have signalled interest in comparable measures.
The announcement follows a three-month government consultation that closed in late May and attracted roughly 116,000 submissions, the second-largest response of its kind on record. More than 83 per cent of parents who responded said social media’s risks outweigh its benefits for children, with 91 per cent backing a minimum access age of 16.
The policy also follows a separate measure announced a week earlier requiring technology firms, including Apple and Google, to introduce safeguards within three months to prevent children from sending, receiving or accessing nude images on phones and tablets, or face legislation compelling them to do so.
What’s Being Said
“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger? An adult that you don’t know about? No. So we’re taking action on that,” said Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, United Kingdom.
A spokesperson for YouTube warned that a blanket ban would push children towards “less safe services”, a concern echoed by critics who argue similar restrictions risk driving young users to unregulated platforms.
What’s Next
The government aims to pass the social media restriction legislation through Parliament by late December 2026, with the ban coming into effect in spring 2027.
Further details on proposed overnight curfews and restrictions on infinite scrolling for under-18s are expected in July 2026.
Technology companies, including Apple and Google, have a three-month window from the prior announcement to introduce safeguards against child access to nude imagery, after which the government may legislate to compel compliance.
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line: Britain’s planned ban places it among a growing bloc of jurisdictions, alongside Australia and Indonesia, moving to restrict minors’ access to social media, and the scale of public backing suggests the policy carries strong domestic momentum. For technology companies operating in the UK market, the spring 2027 timeline gives roughly a year to prepare age-verification systems, and the parallel push on gaming, live-streaming and image-safety standards signals that compliance costs for platforms serving younger audiences are set to rise across the board.
