KUALA LUMPUR — The United Kingdom will ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a “world leading action”.
Describing it as a “big moment for our country”, Starmer justified the ban as he warned of social media’s impact on on children’s happiness and mental health, Bernama affiliates PA Media/dpa reported.
The ban will come into force in early 2027, and will include X, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok which will become unavailable to teens in the UK. This follows Australia move in December to also ban children under 16 from social media by penalising platforms, however, rather than youths or parents.
“I want this message to be heard loud and clear. I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen, and why this ban will happen,” Starmer was reported saying by British media when announcing the policy today.
He also said a government survey found that 90% of adults and “a majority of kids” were in favour of a full ban.
While confident the ban would be effective, Starmer also acknowledged that some children would find ways to circumvent it.
UK plans to go further than Australia’s ban by introducing measures that will make it harder for children to “bypass safeguards”.
According to media reports, also in the pipeline are laws that will block live-streaming and communicating with strangers for children under 16, and restrictions on AI chatbots. – June 15, 2026