What you need to know
- The UK plans to ban access to social media for under-16s, with laws expected to come into effect in 2027.
- Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X will be affected by the ban.
- The proposal would also limit live streaming and contact with strangers in stadiums.
- Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are not included yet.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced what could be one of the most brutal social media crackdowns we’ve ever seen, revealing plans to block social media access for users under the age of 16 in the UK.
Starmer says the goal is to “set a new standard for future generations” and give children back their childhoods. According to him, parents have been demanding stronger protection for years, and the government now wants to introduce more comprehensive security measures to address those concerns.
As part of the proposal, users under the age of 16 will be blocked from accessing platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter). The full list of affected platforms has not been released, so it is unclear whether services such as Bluesky or Reddit will also be included. More details are expected soon.
According to the announcement, these measures will also require platforms to prevent minors from live streaming and communicating with strangers in sports arenas. Any feature involving communication between under 16s and unknown adults will be restricted.
We restrict access to social media to those under the age of 16. These days children have to find their feet in a world where technology permeates every aspect of their lives. I can’t let that go on anymore. So we give back their childhood. pic.twitter.com/jn7iQrcwk8June 15, 2026
The protections will reportedly apply automatically to both 16- and 17-year-olds, in an effort to avoid what the government describes as the “edge” at age 16.
The government is also considering additional measures, including curfews for social media use and a mandatory break on endless scrolling feeds for users under the age of 18. More details on those proposals are expected in July.
Currently, the government says messaging services such as Signal and WhatsApp will not be included in the ban. The proposal would also require AI services for chatbots that provide romantic features or simulate intimate relationships to enforce the age of 18. Similar simulations and intimate features should be restricted to under 18s.
Starmer says the government plans to pass the law before Christmas this year, which will allow the measures to come into force in early 2027.
It’s also worth noting that this announcement comes just days after Apple introduced a number of new child safety and parental control features across iOS, macOS, and iPadOS — something Google wants to bring to Android.
So far, none of the major tech companies affected by the proposal have commented publicly on the UK plans. That said, we expect more responses and developments from both platform operators and regulators in the coming weeks.