No More TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram? Government Announces Social Media Ban for Under 16’s

The UK Government has announced plans for a landmark ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a move to “give kids their childhood back.”

The proposals, described as going even further than similar legislation introduced in Australia, would prevent under 16s from accessing major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, X, Reddit, Twitch and Kick.

The announcement follows one of the largest public consultations in UK history, which received around 116,000 responses. Government figures show that around nine in ten parents supported introducing a legal minimum age of 16 for social media access.

What Will Change?

Under the plans:

• Children under 16 will be blocked from using major social media platforms.

• Livestreaming will be banned for under 16s across a range of services.

• Direct communication with strangers will be restricted, including on some gaming platforms.

• AI romantic companion chatbots that simulate intimate relationships will be restricted to adults aged 18 and over.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are currently expected to remain available, while educational and certain specialist platforms may also be exempt.

What About 16 and 17 Year Olds?

The Government is also considering additional protections for older teenagers, including:

• Default restrictions on livestreaming.

• Limits on communication with strangers.

• Possible overnight social media curfews.

• Mandatory breaks in endless scrolling and excessive screen use.

How Will It Be Enforced?

Ofcom has been tasked with developing highly effective age verification systems and is expected to report back later this year. Options being considered include stronger age assurance technology, digital identification systems and facial age estimation tools.

Criticism and Concerns

Not everyone supports the plans.

Major technology companies have warned that a ban could push some children towards less regulated parts of the internet and make online activity harder to monitor. Critics have also questioned how easy it will be for determined teenagers to bypass restrictions using VPN services.

Timeline

Spring 2026

The Government launched a major public consultation on social media restrictions for children.

26 May 2026

The consultation closed after receiving approximately 116,000 responses from parents, children and experts.

15 June 2026

Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially announced the ban and wider online safety measures.

Autumn 2026

Ofcom is expected to complete work on age verification systems and enforcement recommendations.

Late 2026

Legislation and regulations are expected to be presented to Parliament.

Spring 2027

The social media ban is expected to come into force across the UK.

Speaking about the plans, Keir Starmer said: “We’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under 16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.”

The announcement represents one of the biggest changes to internet use for young people in UK history and is likely to spark significant debate among parents, schools, technology companies and young people themselves.

What do you think? Should social media be banned for under 16s, or should parents have the final say?