UK to Ban Social Media for Under 16s, With Overnight Curfews and Stricter Age Checks

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 16, 2026 that the UK will ban children under 16 from using social media, calling it the strongest online safety measure in the world. The ban targets platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X and YouTube, while messaging apps such as WhatsApp are exempt.

The government surveyed 116,000 parents and found that nine in 10 support the ban, according to a press release from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The ban is expected to take effect by spring 2027, with legislation to be introduced before Christmas.

Ban Details and Scope

The ban applies to all user-to-user platforms whose purpose is social interaction and that allow users to post material alongside algorithms. AI romantic companion chatbots and intimate functionalities on other chatbots will be restricted for children under 18.

• The UK will require highly effective age assurance methods, designed by communications regulator Ofcom, which must report back with a plan by October 2026.
• Additional safeguards include blocks on livestreaming and stranger communication with children under 16, extending to gaming sites.
• The government is considering overnight curfews and required breaks in infinite scrolling for teens under 18.
• The ban is modeled after Australia's law that took effect in December 2025, but the UK says its measures go further.

International Context and Criticism

Australia's ban has not fully succeeded. A March 2026 study by the country's eSafety Commissioner found that after the ban took effect, 31.3% of children still had accounts on regulated platforms. More than two-thirds of those children maintained accounts because tech firms had not asked them to verify their age.

Other countries are moving similarly. Spain plans a ban for under 16s, the Netherlands for under 14s, and France for under 15s. Malaysia and Turkey already have bans for under 16 and under 15 respectively. However, critics argue that bans push children to riskier alternatives and can be circumvented with VPNs, as Ars Technica reported. Amnesty International UK called the approach the wrong prescription, saying the remedy should be to regulate platforms, not exclude children. Privacy risks are a key concern, and political uncertainty around Starmer's government could hinder the ban's passage, according to Joe Jonas of the IAPP.

The government will announce further measures next month. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said tech companies have had many chances to reform and have failed, necessitating the ban.