British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce a nationwide ban preventing children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, saying the move is aimed at protecting young people from harmful online content and addictive digital services.
Speaking on Monday, Starmer said the government would prohibit children under 16 from using major social media platforms, arguing that many of these services expose young users to dangerous material and are intentionally designed to encourage excessive use.
The proposed ban is expected to cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, while messaging services such as WhatsApp would be exempt.
According to the Prime Minister, the government hopes to pass the necessary legislation by the end of December, with the new rules expected to take effect in the spring of next year.
Starmer also announced plans to strengthen online safety measures for children by introducing tougher regulations for gaming services and live-streaming platforms that allow contact between minors and strangers.
The government is also considering additional measures for users under the age of 18, including overnight restrictions on social media access and limits on continuous scrolling. Further details are expected to be released in July.
Officials said the proposal follows a public consultation on children’s online safety, during which teenagers tested social media restrictions and app time limits.
The consultation received approximately 116,000 responses, with more than 83 per cent of participating parents stating that the risks of social media outweigh its benefits for children. About 91 per cent supported setting the minimum age for social media access at 16.
Responding to the proposal, a spokesperson for YouTube cautioned that a blanket ban could drive young users toward less regulated and potentially less safe online services.
The UK government said technology companies have a responsibility to provide stronger protections for children online and pledged to introduce further safeguards to reduce exposure to harmful content and online exploitation.
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