UK announces ban on social media for under 16s - why and how it’s being introduced

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has followed in Australia’s footsteps and announced a social media ban for under-16s.

Describing it as a ‘big moment for our country,’ the politician announced the shock news this morning (15 June) in a Downing Street press conference while explaining that it will come into force by early next year.

The Government outlined that the ban will cover social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, by raising the age limit for access from 13 to 16 in the UK, however, an exhaustive list is yet to be revealed.

Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are expected not to be included in the ban.

There will also be ‘world-leading’ action on gaming and live streaming platforms, so strangers will not be able to contact children, the Prime Minister said.

Starmer outlined that the plan is to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia, whose landmark restrictions came into force last December.

Keir Starmer has announced a landmark social media ban for under-16's in the UK (WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Why is an under-16s social media ban being introduced?

The measures are being put in place to protect children and ‘give them back their childhoods,’ with ‘less time for scrolling and more time for play’.

The Government website outlines that the landmark plans will ‘set a new normal for future generations, kickstarting a cultural shift and driving forward the Government’s fight to give every child the best start in life’.

Starmer, who is a father-of-two himself, said: “This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong.

“But Government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.”

He explained: “I come to it as a parent myself. I know exactly the fears that we all feel when we’re thinking about this issue.

“All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, and I think that’s what any parent wants, but I ask the question now: Do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?"

It comes after Australia implemented a landmark ban last year (Getty Stock Image)

“Do we truly believe that it’s a place where they can feel safe? I don’t think I even need to answer those questions, do I?," he asked, “Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy.”

He added that it was ‘making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse’ children and ‘could even be harming their mental health - exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that’s what grabs the attention’.

As reported by The Guardian, he argued: “I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen, and that is why this ban will happen.

“Yes, it’s hard - hard to legislate for, hard to regulate, hard to enforce. That’s why we sought a wide range of views on this. That’s why we listened to people, had a conversation, we looked carefully at the evidence, learned from countries like Australia that are taking similar steps.”

The first round of measures are expected to come into place next Spring (WPA Pool/Getty Images)

How will the ban be enforced?

So, how exactly will such a huge restriction be enforced in the UK?

The Government website outlines that the first set of regulations could come into effect as soon as Spring 2027.

Technology companies will have to determine how old their users are in order to prevent under-16s from accessing social media.

As reported by The Telegraph, the new restrictions are expected to be enforced using ‘highly effective age assurance’ systems, which include facial age estimation using digital cameras.

These systems can also include credit card age checks, email-based age analysis, and verifying a user’s digital ID.

The restrictions will be required to be switched on by default for children up to 17, and the government is also looking at potential overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s, to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ at 16.