Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that under-16s will be banned from major social media platforms as part of what the government describes as a landmark package of measures aimed at protecting children online.
Speaking from Downing Street this morning, Starmer announced that children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to access platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, with further restrictions also expected to cover a wider range of social and content-sharing services.
The move follows a government consultation that attracted more than 116,000 responses from parents, young people and industry stakeholders.
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According to government figures, 90% of parents who responded backed a minimum age of 16 for social media access, while 85% said the risks associated with social media outweigh the benefits.
Starmer said the decision had not been taken lightly.
“I am not announcing this lightly, and I recognise it is not cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people,” he said.
“But government is about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.”
The measures form part of the government’s wider plans to tackle online harms affecting young people, including concerns around excessive screen time, unhealthy late-night scrolling and exposure to harmful content.
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In a statement released ahead of the announcement, Starmer described online safety as “one of the biggest debates of our time”.
“As a dad, I know every parent wants their child to grow up safe and happy,” he said.
“People rightly expect action, and this government will always stand up for parents and put children first.
“That’s why we will call time on a system that’s failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life.”
The UK is following a path first taken by Australia, which became the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide social media ban for under-16s in December last year.
Under Australia’s system, children are prevented from creating new accounts while existing accounts are deactivated. Social media companies can face fines of up to A$49.5m (£25m) for serious or repeated breaches of the rules.
Whitehall sources have described the UK approach as “Australia-plus”, with ministers also considering additional measures including social media curfews for older teenagers and restrictions on AI chatbots. Further details are expected next month.
The ban is expected to apply to platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, X, Threads, Facebook and Kick.
The announcement is likely to have significant implications for social media platforms, advertisers, content creators and digital marketers, particularly those whose audiences include younger users.
