UK to Ban Under-16s from Social Media Platforms Including TikTok, Instagram and X

LONDON, June 15: The UK government has announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube, as part of new child online safety measures inspired by Australia’s regulatory model.

According to government details published on its website, the proposed ban would apply to “user-to-user platforms” designed for social interaction and content sharing, particularly those operating algorithm-driven feeds.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not expected to be included in the restrictions, officials said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move is aimed at protecting children’s safety and well-being online, stressing that his government would not compromise on the issue.

“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 said.

He acknowledged that implementation would be challenging but said the government was committed to overcoming resistance from technology companies and had drawn lessons from Australia’s approach to similar restrictions.

Starmer also said the government would go further than a basic ban, including measures targeting gaming platforms, live-streaming services, and tools that allow strangers to contact children without safeguards.

Before the announcement, campaigners and bereaved families speaking on BBC Breakfast urged stronger enforcement, particularly robust age verification systems, and called for wider protections across gaming platforms.

Ellen Roome, whose son Jools died following an alleged online challenge, said she hoped the measures would include strict age verification and broader coverage of digital platforms.

Esther Ghey, mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, said the announcement reflected years of campaigning and public pressure, adding that “parents need support” in managing children’s online exposure.

The government said the legislation represents “world-leading action” on child online safety, aimed at reducing harmful contact, exposure to risky content, and algorithm-driven risks affecting minors online.