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The UK is the latest country to follow Australia in introducing a ban on children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced. The ban, which could come into force from the beginning of next year, will be joined by more measures that will also prevent children from talking to strangers in online games, browsing, or using sex or romantic chats.
Do we really believe that social media makes our children happy? Starmer asked at the press conference to announce the policy. “I don’t have to answer those questions, do I?”
He said: “All parents see with their own eyes. “Social media is making children unhappy. It makes it easier for bullies to harass them and abuse them, maybe even damage their minds, put them in trouble because that’s what makes them interesting. They are designed to be addictive – that’s for sure. Things like the Infinite Scroll – they’re designed to keep you hooked for hours.”
Banned social media apps include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, although messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are not covered. “Romantic chat” must be at least 18 years old, and “intimate services” will be at least 18 years old for most AI tools. Along with restrictions on games and livestreaming platforms, the UK government he said in his voice that his new policy will “go further than any other country” in reducing children’s time on the Internet.
The restrictions are likely to continue, with the government also considering “overnight curfews and extended rest periods for children under the age of 18,” with an announcement planned for next month.
The UK’s communications regulator Ofcom has been tasked with deciding the best way to ensure the policy’s age. The UK needs a multi-year guarantee system since last summer under the Online Safety Act, which requires certain websites to limit access to people under the age of 18 to prevent pornographic or potentially dangerous content. Verifying that age often requires users to upload credit card or government ID information, or agree to verify their age.
“Tech companies have had many opportunities to protect children, but have failed to act,” said technology secretary Liz Kendall. “That’s why we’re taking the power away from technologists and putting it back in the hands of parents.”
The government has said legislation is expected to be submitted to parliament by the end of the year, and that the first regulations could come into force from spring 2027. Australia ban The 16-year-old television ban goes into effect in December 2025, and several governments around the world are developing or considering similar laws, including Canada, France, Spain, and Denmark.
