UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom will ban social media for children under 16. The policy is intended to protect their health and well-being.

Starmer expressed hope that the legislation will be approved before Christmas, allowing the restrictions to take effect early next year. Detailed plans for implementation are expected in July.

Platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram could be affected. Additional measures under consideration include restrictions on nighttime use, live-streaming, and communication with strangers, as well as features to interrupt endless scrolling for users under 18.

The announcement follows consultations with parents, children, and experts that began in March on age-verification and other safety tools, some of which have already been tested. Australia was the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for under-16s.