Britain Plans to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 16

The UK government is reportedly preparing to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to formally announce the proposal in a speech on Monday, according to multiple media reports.

Although ministers had previously confirmed they were considering introducing such restrictions, both The Guardian and the Financial Times now report that Starmer is ready to move forward with the policy as part of a broader effort to strengthen online protections for young people.

Government officials told The Guardian that the proposed restrictions would closely mirror Australia’s recently adopted framework. Under that model, social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch, and Kick, would all be prohibited to users younger than 16.

The reported measures would not extend to every digital service. Gaming platforms, for example, would remain available to younger users but would be required to turn off certain features, such as the ability to communicate with strangers. The proposal would also block people under 18 from accessing romantic or sexually oriented AI chatbots while introducing measures to reduce late-night scrolling among younger users.

According to The Guardian, the government already possesses regulatory authority that could be used to implement some elements of the policy. However, additional legislation may still be necessary before the full package of restrictions can be introduced.

The United Kingdom is among several countries that have begun exploring stricter rules on children’s access to social media, following Australia’s lead. The country has already implemented an age-verification law that was promoted as a measure to improve online safety for children and teenagers.

The proposed restrictions arrive amid increasing public concern over the effects of social media on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Among the strongest supporters of tighter regulation is the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, who has publicly called for a social media ban for teenagers in the UK. She argued that harmful online content significantly worsened her daughter’s eating disorder and self-harming behaviour.

At the same time, the proposed measures have attracted criticism from privacy advocates and digital rights groups. Opponents argue that broad social media bans could isolate young people from important online communities, interfere with personal privacy, and deliver mental health benefits that have yet to be conclusively proven.

Age-verification requirements have also faced scrutiny. While several U.S. states have already introduced similar laws instead of outright social media bans, critics maintain that these systems pose risks to online privacy and user anonymity. They also point out that existing verification technologies are not entirely reliable and can often be bypassed, raising questions about how effectively such restrictions can be enforced in practice.