RismadarVoice Reporters, June 15, 2026
The United Kingdom has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, as part of a broader effort to strengthen online safety and protect young people from harmful digital content.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the proposal on Monday, arguing that social media platforms are negatively affecting the wellbeing of children and exposing them to addictive features and potentially dangerous material.
Under the proposed regulations, individuals below the age of 16 would be barred from creating or using accounts on popular platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X. Messaging services, including WhatsApp, are expected to be exempt from the restrictions.
The British government aims to secure legislative approval for the measure before the end of the year, with implementation targeted for the spring of 2027.
In addition to the social media ban, authorities are considering further protections for minors online, including restrictions on gaming platforms and livestreaming services that allow direct interaction between children and unknown adults.
Government officials also disclosed that additional measures under review include overnight access restrictions for younger users and limits on features such as endless scrolling, which critics argue are designed to maximise screen time.
The proposed policy follows a nationwide consultation that involved extensive public participation and trials conducted with teenagers to assess the impact of social media restrictions and usage limits.
According to government figures, a significant majority of parents who participated in the consultation expressed concern about the risks associated with social media use among children and supported the introduction of a minimum access age of 16.
Officials said the decision was influenced in part by developments in Australia, which became one of the first countries to introduce a nationwide social media ban for users under 16.
The UK government has also intensified efforts to improve child safety online by requiring technology companies to implement stronger safeguards against the sharing of explicit images involving minors. Authorities warned that companies failing to introduce adequate protections could face legal action.
Government representatives argued that technology firms have a responsibility to ensure children are protected from online exploitation, abuse and other digital threats.
