The UK Places a Sweeping Ban on Social Media for Kids Under 16
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Children under the age of 16 will be banned from social media platforms in the UK, under new measures announced by prime minister Keir Starmer on Monday.
Key facts
One of the most vocal advocates was Esther Ghey, mother of transgender teenager Brianna Ghey, murdered by two fellow schoolchildren in 2023
Under the new measures, expected to come into force in spring 2027, the UK government will also ban livestreaming features and the ability for strangers to contact children under the age of 16
Children under the age of 16 will be banned from social media platforms in the UK, under new measures announced by prime minister Keir Starmer on Monday
More than 90 percent of parents that responded to the consultation support an outright ban
Summary
“The need for action could not be clearer. Under-16s will lose access to social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, while the minimum age for chatbots that imitate romantic interactions will be raised to 18. Under the new measures, expected to come into force in spring 2027, the UK government will also ban livestreaming features and the ability for strangers to contact children under the age of 16 across all platforms. In an effort to restrict late-night doomscrolling, it will also consider introducing an overnight social media curfew for under 18s, with details to follow in July.