Which social media platforms will be banned for under-16s in UK - as petition reaches 190,000 signatures

A slew of questions have been raised ever since Keir Starmer announced that an under-16s social media ban will come into force in the UK next year.

The Prime Minister announced the landmark decision on Monday morning (15 June), hailing it as a ‘big moment for our country’.

In a move to protect children online, the government will not only raise the age required for social media apps from 13 to 16, but also place blocks on livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s.

Starmer explained that the plan, which will come into force in Spring 2027, will be to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia, whose first-of-their-kind restrictions came into force last December.

However, the UK’s big announcement hasn’t come without its backlash, with Brits divided on the whole blanket ban concept.

One of the biggest questions that’s been asked is exactly which apps will be included.

The social media ban has raised questions and debates around the UK (Getty Stock Image)

The government has made it clear that messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will not be on the list.

However, apps that are extremely popular among young people, such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, will be part of the ban,

Social media apps that will be included in the under-16s ban

As reported by Chronicle Live, the full list of apps that will be banned can be found below:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Snapchat
• TikTok
• YouTube
• Reddit
• Kick
• Threads
• Twitch

It comes as a defiant petition to stop the ban from happening altogether has reached a whopping 190,000 signatures.

The petition was launched back in February on the official government website, at a time when pressure was growing over whether or not to introduce the drastic measures.

On 15 June, an update was issued which explained that because the petition got more than 100,000 signatures, the Petitions Committee will consider it for debate in Parliament.

The creator of the petition, Leo Rhodes, wrote: “I think the government shouldn’t ban social media for under 16s. This is because for many young people, social media is how they communicate with their friends.”

Starmer argues that social media is 'making children unhappy' (Bloomberg/Getty Images)

He added, “Some people view social media as a lifeline. A community, a supportive network. This is why I think the government shouldn’t ban it.

At the time of writing, it has more than 193,000 signatures and is well on the way to hitting 200,000.

Among those opposing the ban is Scotland's children's commissioner, Nicola Killean, who said she is ‘disappointed’ by Starmer’s decision.

As reported by the BBC, she said the ban was not a ‘proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children's rights’.

On the other side of the argument, when announcing the ban, Starmer said: “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?"

He questioned: “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? Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy.”