UK to ban social media for under-16s to 'give kids their childhood back'
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The U.K. will ban social media from offering services to under-16s, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, as governments around the world face mounting pressure to ensure child safety online.
Key facts
These include blocking livestreaming and communication with strangers for users under 16, while similar protections will be enabled by default for 16- and 17-year-olds
CNBC's Kai Nicol-Schwarz and Sawdah Bhaimiya contributed to this report
CNBC has reached out to the parent companies of the social media platforms that could be affected for comment
The U.K. will ban social media from offering services to under-16s, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, as governments around the world face mounting pressure to ensure child safety
Summary
The ban could include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The U.K. plans to model its approach on landmark Australian legislation passed late last year, but the country will go further by introducing additional restrictions on features deemed particularly harmful to children. These include blocking livestreaming and communication with strangers for users under 16, while similar protections will be enabled by default for 16- and 17-year-olds. "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," Starmer said in a statement.