UK Announces Under-16 Social Media Ban
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a total social media ban for children under 16, with measures set to take effect from early next year, including restrictions on gaming and chatbots.
The United Kingdom has become the latest country to introduce a complete social media ban for children under 16, following Australia's lead. Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement at a press conference, stating that social media platforms make children unhappy and facilitate bullying. The ban will cover apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, while messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are exempt. Additional measures will restrict children from talking to strangers in online games, livestreaming, and using romantic chatbots, which will require users to be at least 18. The government is also considering overnight curfews and breaks from infinite scrolling for under-18s. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, will be responsible for determining age verification methods. Legislation is expected to be presented to parliament by the end of the year, with the first regulations potentially coming into force in spring 2027. Several other governments, including Canada, France, Spain, and Denmark, are developing similar laws.
