UK Moves Bans TikTok, Instagram, Facebook for Children Under 16

• The United Kingdom government has announced plans to ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, citing growing concerns over online safety, addiction, and harmful content.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, saying the move is aimed at protecting young people from harmful and addictive online content.

Speaking during a press conference at Downing Street in London on Monday, Starmer said social media was exposing children to dangers that could negatively affect their wellbeing.

“The government will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16. These platforms are exposing them to content that is dangerous and designed to be addictive.”

According to him, platforms expected to be affected include TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.

However, messaging services such as WhatsApp will reportedly not be included in the ban.

Starmer said the government hopes to pass the regulation by late December, with implementation expected to begin in spring next year.

The UK government is also considering additional measures, including overnight curfews for social media use and restrictions on infinite scrolling features for users under 18.

More details on the proposed rules are expected to be announced in July.

The prime minister added that authorities would also tighten regulations around gaming services and live-streaming platforms that allow children to interact with strangers online.

“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger? An adult that you don’t know about? No. So we’re taking action on that.”

The announcement follows a government-led consultation in which British teenagers reportedly tested social media bans and app time limits.

Reacting to the proposal, a YouTube spokesperson warned that a blanket ban could push children toward less secure online services.

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The move comes amid growing global efforts to strengthen online safety for children.

Last week, Canada introduced legislation seeking to ban children under 16 from opening social media accounts while also requiring artificial intelligence services to limit harmful content.

The UK government had also recently directed technology companies, including Apple and Google, to introduce safety features that would prevent children from creating, sending or accessing nude images on electronic devices.

The latest proposal marks one of the most far-reaching attempts by a major government to regulate children’s access to social media platforms.