UK Bans Social Media for Under-16s

Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveils a landmark plan to restrict social media access for children under 16.

The government says the move aims to protect young people from:

Why Is The Ban Happening?

Online abuse

Cyberbullying

Harmful content

Addictive scrolling habits

Which Apps Could Be Blocked?

Platforms expected to be affected include:

TikTok

Instagram

Snapchat

Facebook

X

YouTube

What About Messaging Apps?

Services such as WhatsApp and Signal are currently expected to remain available for under-16s.

New Rules Beyond Social Media

Children under 16 may also be prevented from:

Chatting with strangers on gaming platforms

Livestreaming online

Accessing certain AI chatbots

When Will The Ban Start?

The government aims to introduce the measures next year, with full implementation expected after legislation is approved.

A Major Shift For Online Safety

The proposal has strong parental support, but critics question how effective the ban will be in practice.