UK announces ban on social media for under-16-year-olds

Children under 16 will be banned from using social media in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, saying such platforms were making youngsters “unhappy”. Some children’s charities welcomed the sweeping change, which is likely to trigger a major fight with US tech giants, but others warned it could make teenagers less safe […]

Children under 16 will be banned from using social media in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, saying such platforms were making youngsters “unhappy”.
Some children’s charities welcomed the sweeping change, which is likely to trigger a major fight with US tech giants, but others warned it could make teenagers less safe online.
Starmer, likely to face a leadership challenge in the coming weeks, said social media sites were exposing children to content that is “dangerous” and “designed to be addictive”.
The ban will “include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X”, but not messaging services such as WhatsApp, the government said.
Starmer said the upcoming ban was influenced by the experience of Australia, which in December became the first nation to ban people under 16 from social media.
The UK leader said he hoped to pass the regulation by late December and for the ban to come into force within months next year.
He suggested that YouTube Kids, Lego Play and Google Classroom would not be prohibited.
Meanwhile, “harmful functions” on gaming services and live streaming platforms allowing strangers to contact children will be blocked.
The government said it would also consider overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for minors and would announce more details in July.
Canada and France are among other countries considering similar bans, while Indonesia began enforcing its ban for users under 16 in March.