UK government moves to bar under-16s from social media, citing child safety

The UK government is set to announce a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed, marking one of the most aggressive regulatory moves against big tech globally. The proposal, expected to be unveiled on Monday, would bar minors from major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit, according to Hacker News. The BBC reported that the ban also prevents children from livestreaming on "safer" sites and blocks them from talking to strangers on gaming apps. "world leading action" Starmer described the measures as going further than Australia's legislation, which introduced the world's first outright social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, according to Deadline. The UK government cited a survey showing 90% public support for the ban, Deadline reported. The announcement comes ahead of a G7 summit in France, where Starmer will face political challenges following his defense secretary's resignation, according to ByteEU. The proposal also includes restrictions on chatbots and a curfew for older teenagers to prevent late-night scrolling, Hacker News reported. The children's tsar has called for the ban to extend to under-18s, according to Kent Online. Starmer acknowledged the ban will not be easy to implement but emphasized the UK government has agency in pushing back against the power of big technology companies, Channel NewsAsia reported. "a choice between supporting families or maintaining ineffective existing protections" NBC News reported that Starmer framed the announcement as prioritizing child safety over the current status quo. The UK follows Australia's lead, which introduced the world's first outright social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, according to the BBC. Further details of the UK's implementation are expected next month, the BBC added.

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