Under-16s to be banned from social media in the UK

The UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he would ban social media sites for under-16s and impose restrictions on gaming and live-streaming platforms, in a fightback against big tech that goes further than any other country.

The sweeping changes will "give kids their childhood back", Starmer said, outlining measures against platforms including Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, as well as gaming sites that allow strangers to communicate with children.

"It is clear to me a full ban is the right choice," he told a press conference. "It will make a huge difference, it will make our children safer, it will make our children happier, it will give them more time, more security, more freedom to grow up, more opportunity".

Starmer also said that he will fight back if technology companies resist the move, intended to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time. He said he is "not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children."

Britain will use a similar model to Australia, which enacted a ban last December, the government said.

It will cover platforms that also include YouTube, Facebook and X, but messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the ban.

Britain will also introduce "world-leading blocks" on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s.

Could the ban be in place by spring 2027?

The government already has the powers to take the first steps in any ban, Starmer said, with regulation to follow by the end of the year and a prohibition in place around next spring.

Britain has increasingly toughened its approach to tech companies in recent years, urging or forcing them to impose age verification, adapt their algorithms and, most recently, prevent children from circulating nude images taken on mobile phones.

But with a growing awareness of the mental health risks posed by children spending too much time online, Starmer has decided to go further after speaking to parents and considering the evidence from Australia.

Starmer, who is likely to face a leadership challenge in the coming weeks, said people rightly expected action.

How will this ban be implemented?

Starmer said the ban would be enforced through action against social media platforms, rather than seeking to fine children who find ways to bypass it.

The government said UK regulator Ofcom would conduct a rapid study to establish the best way to verify if someone is over 16, and would have a new enforcement strategy and funding.