LONDON – Britain will ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, saying the sites were making youngsters “unhappy” and exposing them to dangerous content.
The sweeping measure, which targets major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X, is expected to trigger a battle with US tech giants and has already drawn criticism from the American embassy in London.
Starmer said during a Downing Street press conference that he hoped to pass the regulation by late December, with the ban coming into force in spring 2027. Messaging services such as WhatsApp will be exempt, as will child-friendly platforms like YouTube Kids, Lego Play and Google Classroom.
“Social media sites are exposing children to content that is dangerous and designed to be addictive,” the prime minister said, adding that the move was influenced by Australia’s similar ban introduced in December.
The government will also consider overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for minors, with further details expected in July.
Mixed reaction from child welfare groups
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children called the ban “a win” for children and parents, but stressed it must be followed by “robust age checks on platforms” and “an effective enforcement regime”.
However, Save The Children UK’s senior adviser Jeffrey DeMarco warned the ban “pushes children into less regulated spaces, where they are less likely to seek help when something goes wrong”.
A YouTube spokesperson echoed those concerns, saying a blanket ban would drive children towards “less safe services”.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Britain’s decision in a post on X. “Social media giants operate across borders. By standing together, we can do more to hold them accountable and keep children safe online,” he wrote.
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International trend
Canada and France are among countries considering similar bans, while Indonesia began enforcing restrictions for users under 16 in March.
The announcement follows a government consultation that closed in late May and attracted about 116 000 contributions, making it the second-largest response ever received. More than 83% of parents who responded said the risks posed by social media outweighed the benefits for children, with 91% backing a minimum age of 16.
Britain’s ban could strain relations with US President Donald Trump after the American embassy in London earlier this month opposed “broad social media bans”.
ALSO READ: Expert, parents back social media ban for SA’s under-16s
Blocking stranger contact
The government also plans to block “harmful functions” on gaming services and live streaming platforms that allow strangers to contact children.
“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,” Starmer said.
Crackdown on nude images
The announcement comes a week after the government gave tech giants including Apple and Google three months to introduce features blocking children from taking and accessing nude photos on phones and tablets. If they fail to comply, legislation will force them to activate the technology.
According to analysis by the Internet Watch Foundation cited by the government, 91% of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 contained self-generated content from children themselves.
Starmer, who faces a potential leadership challenge in the coming weeks, has made children’s online safety a key priority.
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