The United Kingdom government decided to ban social media access for children under 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the landmark measure on Monday. Starmer stated that the ban aimed to give children their childhood back and protect them from online harms.
Starmer spoke during the policy rollout. He declared, “We’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.” The decision followed a major public consultation that received over 116,000 responses.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall supported the move. Kendall indicated new measures would come into effect by the end of 2026. The plan targeted high risk platforms with a complete ban for under-16s. Safer platforms faced limits on features such as livestreaming, disappearing messages, and chats with strangers.
The government built on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. This legislation required age or functionality restrictions for children under 16. Officials drew inspiration from Australia’s earlier ban. They planned robust age verification systems to enforce the rules.
Parents showed strong backing during the consultation. Many expressed worries about mental health impacts, addictive algorithms, and exposure to harmful content. Police chiefs also urged action. They called for blocks on platforms that allowed private messaging with strangers or harmful recommendations.
Critics raised questions about enforcement. Some experts warned that children might bypass restrictions through VPNs or shared devices. Others noted potential challenges for educational uses of platforms like YouTube. The government promised further details soon. Officials committed to balancing safety with practical implementation.
The announcement marked a significant shift in online safety policy. It reflected growing global pressure to shield young people from social media risks. Implementation details will emerge in the coming months.
