The UK will ban the use of social media for children under 16

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced that a total ban on social media for children under 16 was underway, saying the platforms were “making children unhappy”.

Starmer lamented that these platforms “expose people to harmful content” and are “designed to be addictive”, and that they “will include platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X” but not messaging services such as WhatsApp.

He added that he hopes the regulations can be passed by the end of December and the ban will come into effect next spring.

The prime minister also said the government would go further and take “world-leading action on gaming services and live streaming platforms”.

The government said in a statement that it would also consider a curfew and indefinite break for under-18s, and would announce further details in July.

Starmer said the impending ban was influenced by the experience of Australia, which in December became the first country to ban people under 16 from using social media.

The announcement follows a government-led consultation in which British teenagers trialled social media bans and time limits on apps.

A YouTube spokesperson responded with a warning that such a blanket ban would push children toward “less safe services.”

Starmer said the government was “taking action” against gaming services and live streaming platforms that allow foreigners to contact children.

“Is there a situation in the offline world where you let your child pair up with a stranger? An adult you don’t know? No. So we will take action against that,” he said, without providing details.