The UK Government has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as “a real change for children and for the future.” Announced on 15 June 2026, the legislation is expected to come into force in Spring 2027, subject to parliamentary approval.
Presenting the proposed legislation at a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer argued that the measure is necessary to protect young people from the growing harms associated with online platforms.
“Social media makes children unhappy, makes it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and could even damage their mental health,” he said.
According to The Guardian, the proposed legislation would go even further than Australia’s pioneering restrictions on youth access to social media. The plan envisages a ban covering access to all major social media platforms for users under the age of 16.
The reforms would also introduce additional safeguards for digital services that fall outside the scope of the social media ban, including gaming applications. Among the proposed measures is the removal of features that allow children to communicate with strangers online.
Starmer acknowledged that the decision had not been taken lightly.
“This is not something I have done lightly, and I will not pretend it comes without costs, just as I would not claim that social media has been an unqualified force for good for young people, because that is clearly not the case,” he said. “Government is ultimately about making choices, and it is clear to me that a complete ban is the right choice.”
The announcement was made before an audience that included campaigners for stronger online child protection as well as parents who had lost children, underscoring the emotional significance of the proposed reforms.
“I am not prepared to compromise when it comes to the safety and happiness of our children. That is why this ban must happen — and that is why it will happen,” Starmer said.
He also recognized the practical challenges of implementing such legislation.
“Yes, it is difficult. It is difficult to legislate, difficult to regulate and difficult to enforce. That is why we sought a wide range of views, listened carefully, examined the evidence and learned from countries such as Australia that are taking similar steps.”
The UK Government said the proposal enjoys strong public backing. According to responses gathered during its public consultation on Growing Up in an Online World, nine out of ten parents support setting 16 as the minimum age for access to social media applications.
Why it matters
The United Kingdom’s proposal reflects a growing international movement to rethink children’s relationship with social media. Policymakers across Europe and beyond are increasingly questioning whether existing online safety measures are sufficient to protect young users from addictive platform design, cyberbullying, harmful content and the mental health consequences of excessive screen time.
Australia has already adopted one of the world’s toughest regulatory approaches by introducing legislation requiring major social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. Other countries, including France and Norway, have also explored stricter age-verification requirements and stronger parental safeguards, while the European Union has strengthened platform accountability through the Digital Services Act.
Supporters argue that today’s social media platforms were never designed with children’s wellbeing in mind. They point to growing evidence linking excessive social media use with anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, lower self-esteem and exposure to online abuse. They also contend that stronger regulation is necessary because parents cannot shoulder the responsibility alone in an increasingly complex digital environment.
Critics, however, warn that outright bans could prove difficult to enforce and may push young people towards less regulated online spaces. Civil liberties organizations have also raised concerns about privacy, age-verification technologies and children’s rights to access information and participate in the digital world.
The debate therefore extends far beyond technology. It raises fundamental questions about how modern societies should balance innovation, freedom of expression, parental responsibility and the duty of governments to protect children in an increasingly digital age.
If adopted by Parliament, the legislation would place the United Kingdom among the countries taking the most far-reaching steps to limit children’s access to social media, reflecting growing international concern over the impact of digital platforms on young people’s wellbeing, online safety and mental health.
Sources: UK Government, Reuters, The Guardian
