The United Kingdom has announced a landmark law prohibiting children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms as part of efforts to protect young people from harmful online content.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the measure on Monday, describing it as a necessary step to shield children from cyberbullying, harmful content and other online risks.
The ban will apply to major social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
However, messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Signal will be exempt from the restrictions.
Starmer said the government’s decision was informed by growing concerns over the impact of social media on children’s well-being, mental health and safety.
“As a parent, I know the fears that we all feel about social media. We all want our children to be happy and safe,” he said.
He argued that social media platforms often expose children to harmful and addictive content while creating opportunities for bullying and abuse.
“Social media is making children unhappy. It is making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health,” the Prime Minister said.
Under the new regulations, children will also be barred from interacting with strangers through certain online platforms, including some gaming applications and live-streaming services.
The UK government said additional restrictions would apply by default to 16- and 17-year-olds to ensure a gradual transition into adulthood.
Authorities are also considering further safeguards, including overnight curfews for social media use and measures to limit excessive scrolling among users under 18.
The proposed law will also prohibit the use of “romantic chatbots” by individuals under 18, while access to some artificial intelligence-powered chatbots will be restricted.
Starmer said he expected the legislation to be passed before the end of the year, with implementation likely to begin in the spring of 2027.
Under the framework, responsibility for enforcing the restrictions will rest with social media companies rather than children or their parents.
According to the UK government, a large majority of parents support the move, with official consultations indicating that nine out of ten parents favour the ban.
A separate opinion poll conducted by YouGov also showed strong backing, with 77 per cent of parents supporting the measure.
The government said the policy was partly influenced by a number of tragic cases involving children who were exposed to harmful online content, cyberbullying and social media-related abuse.
The UK joins a growing number of countries seeking stricter regulation of children’s online activities, following similar legislation introduced in Australia earlier this year.
