UK to ban social media for under-16s to ‘give kids their childhood back’
United Kingdom ban social media Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that the provision of services to under-16s would cease, at a time when governments around the world face increasing pressure to keep children safe online.
The ban may cover platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The first set of regulations could come into force in spring 2027.
The UK plans to model its approach on Australian legislation passed late last year, but the country will go further by imposing additional restrictions on features deemed harmful, especially to children.
These include live streaming and blocking communication with strangers for users under 16, while similar protections will be enabled by default for 16 and 17 year olds. The government is also considering a nightly curfew and measures to limit endless scrolling by minors.
“We are going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and implementing broader safeguards to give children back their childhood,” Starmer said in a statement. he said.
Stating at the press conference that social media makes children unhappy and is designed to create addiction, Starmer added that he did not take this decision lightly.
CNBC has reached out to Alphabet and Meta for comment.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
