The UK Government has announced plans to introduce new restrictions on children’s access to social media, including a proposed ban on under-16s using major social media platforms.
Under the proposals, platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X would be required to prevent users under the age of 16 from accessing their services. Messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Signal are not expected to be included.
The government says it intends to follow a model similar to that being introduced in Australia and will also introduce additional safeguards aimed at reducing children’s exposure to online risks. These measures would include restrictions on features such as livestreaming and communication with strangers for under-16s, with some protections also applying by default to 16 and 17-year-olds.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever. I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them. That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back. This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”
The proposals would extend beyond social media and could affect a wider range of online services, including some gaming platforms. The government is also examining the possibility of overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling features for under-18s.
New rules are also planned for artificial intelligence chatbots. AI services designed to simulate romantic or sexual relationships would be restricted to users aged 18 and over, while other intimate AI chatbot features could face limits for under-18s.
To support enforcement, Ofcom has been asked to review age-verification measures and enforcement powers. The government has said it will provide funding to help the regulator carry out its responsibilities.
The announcement follows a national consultation that received more than 116,000 responses from parents, children and experts. According to government figures, 90% of parents who responded supported a social media ban for under-16s, while around two-thirds of young people supported restrictions on at least some social media platforms.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations.
Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act. That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents’ hands.
My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver.”
The government intends to introduce the measures through secondary legislation, meaning the first regulations could come into effect from Spring 2027, subject to parliamentary approval.
