UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Announces Social Media Ban for Under-16s

By Emmanuel Kwada

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a comprehensive ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, aiming to protect young people from online harm, addiction, and exploitation.

In a speech delivered at Downing Street, Starmer outlined the policy, which draws heavily from Australia’s similar restrictions introduced in late 2025.

The ban will apply to major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and others. Tech companies will be required to implement robust age verification systems, with significant fines or criminal sanctions for non-compliance.

The move follows an extensive government consultation earlier in 2026, which reportedly received strong support from parents, with around nine in ten backing tighter restrictions. Starmer has emphasised the need to safeguard children’s mental health, citing evidence of rising anxiety, grooming risks, and addictive design features on social platforms.

“This is about protecting our children,” Starmer said. “We are not prepared to compromise on their safety and happiness.”

The policy goes beyond a simple age ban. It is expected to include additional UK-specific measures, such as: Nightly curfews on social media access for 16– and 17-year-olds; Restrictions on livestreaming and disappearing messages for younger users; Limits on communication with adult strangers in gaming environments; Controls on certain AI chatbot interactions.

The government has described the approach as an “Australia plus” model, building on the precedent set by the Australian ban while addressing local concerns.