UK moves to ban social media access for under-16s in major online safety push

The proposed measures include restrictions on social media platforms, livestreaming and gaming interactions, as Britain seeks to strengthen online protections for children and address growing concerns over digital wellbeing and safety.

The United Kingdom has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, becoming the latest country to adopt stricter measures aimed at protecting young people from online harms.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move reflects growing concerns about the impact of digital platforms on children's wellbeing and development. The proposed restrictions would place Britain alongside Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, which have already introduced similar measures targeting underage social media use.

The government’s proposal goes beyond a traditional platform ban. Officials have indicated that children would also face restrictions on livestreaming features and interactions with unknown users through gaming applications. Additional measures, including potential social media curfews for minors, are also being evaluated and are expected to be detailed in the coming weeks.

Speaking about the decision, Starmer said the government was acting to ensure children can grow up in a safer environment and reduce the influence of technologies that increasingly dominate young people's daily lives.

Wider online safety measures under review

The policy follows a three-month public consultation launched by the government to assess options for improving child safety online. The review examined both a complete social media ban for younger users and a range of alternative safeguards designed to limit exposure to potentially harmful digital experiences.

Among the measures considered were stronger age-verification systems, restrictions on addictive platform features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, limits on AI chatbot interactions, and the introduction of time-based access controls.

According to reports, the proposed restrictions are expected to cover major social media platforms commonly used by teenagers, including video-sharing, messaging and social networking services. The UK is also considering measures that would go beyond those already implemented in Australia, including tighter controls on AI-driven services and online engagement features.

Strong public support, but critics raise concerns

The consultation attracted more than 116,000 responses, highlighting the scale of public interest in the issue. Government data indicated that a large majority of participating parents supported tougher restrictions on social media access for children under 16. Many respondents also expressed concerns that the risks associated with social media outweigh its benefits for younger users.

However, not everyone supports a blanket ban. Some digital rights advocates and campaign groups have argued that broad restrictions may create new challenges, including limiting access to educational resources, support communities and digital literacy opportunities.

The government is expected to formally outline the new framework shortly, combining platform restrictions with broader safeguards aimed at creating a safer online environment for children and teenagers across the country.