The UK government has confirmed a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16, citing growing concerns about online safety and mental health.
The UK will prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms from spring 2027 under new measures announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The ban will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, and YouTube, while messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will remain exempt.
Starmer said the government would not compromise on child safety. He argued that many social media platforms are designed to be addictive and keep young users engaged for long periods. The move follows Australia’s introduction of a similar law in 2025. This makes the UK one of the first countries in Europe to adopt such restrictions.
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The government says Ofcom will outline age-verification requirements in the coming months. Proposed methods could include passport checks, bank account verification, and electoral records. Other methods include provisional driving licences, email-based age estimation, and facial-age estimation technology. Tech companies have raised concerns, warning that the ban could push teenagers toward less regulated online spaces.
The under-16 social media ban is expected to become one of the UK’s most significant online safety reforms.
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