Guardian

More than 100,000 people urge MPs to ban social media for under-16s in UK

The Telegraph

Starmer Poised To Ban Under 16S From Social Media

The Times

Keir Starmer signals support for social media ban on under-16s

Financial Times

UK ministers draw up options for ban on social media for children

Netmums

100,000 parents ask their MP for a social media ban for under 16s

TikTok to strengthen age-verification technology across EU

TikTok Newsroom

Updates to how we enforce age appropriate experiences in Europe - Newsroom

Engadget

TikTok tightens age verification across Europe

Spectator (UK)

The conservative case for an under-16 social media ban

Oxford Academic

8371934

Brookings

How will bans on social media affect children?

Youtube

- YouTube

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated that the government is considering imposing a social media ban on under-16s, stating that all options are on the table for protecting children and the government is examining Australia's approach to platform age restrictions.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated that the government is considering imposing a social media ban on under-16s, stating that all options are on the table for protecting children and the government is examining Australia's approach to platform age restrictions.

This comes as the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign gathered over 100,000 letters to members of Parliament (MPS) urging support for the ban, with constituent emails being sent to every MP.

This comes as the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign gathered over 100,000 letters to members of Parliament (MPS) urging support for the ban, with constituent emails being sent to every MP.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Starmer to back the ban, pleding that her party would block under-16s from social media if elected, with the Conservatives tabling an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, scheduled for a vote in the House of Lords next week.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Starmer to back the ban, pleding that her party would block under-16s from social media if elected, with the Conservatives tabling an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, scheduled for a vote in the House of Lords next week.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/australia-enforces-social-media-ban-for-children-under-">Australia became the first country to ban social media</a> for under-16s in December, with platforms required to take reasonable steps to keep children off their sites or face fines up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million). More than 4.7 million accounts were removed across 10 platforms in the first days.

Australia became the first country to ban social media for under-16s in December, with platforms required to take reasonable steps to keep children off their sites or face fines up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million). More than 4.7 million accounts were removed across 10 platforms in the first days.

TikTok, which removes around 6 million underage accounts globally each month, announced it will roll out enhanced age-detection across Europe in the coming weeks, using profile information and behavior to identify accounts potentially belonging to users under 13.

TikTok, which removes around 6 million underage accounts globally each month, announced it will roll out enhanced age-detection across Europe in the coming weeks, using profile information and behavior to identify accounts potentially belonging to users under 13.

The suicide prevention Molly Rose Foundation says a blanket social media ban risks causing more harm than good, while the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has called for for a risk-based approach to minimum age-setting.

The suicide prevention Molly Rose Foundation says a blanket social media ban risks causing more harm than good, while the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has called for for a risk-based approach to minimum age-setting.

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This comes as the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign gathered over 100,000 letters to members of Parliament (MPS) urging support for the ban, with every MP receiving constituent emails.

This comes as the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign gathered over 100,000 letters to members of Parliament (MPS) urging support for the ban, with every MP receiving constituent emails.

Australia became the first country to enact a social media ban for under-16s in December, with platforms required to take reasonable steps to keep children off their sites or face fines up to A$49.5 million. More than 4.7 million accounts were removed across 10 platforms in the first days.

Australia became the first country to enact a social media ban for under-16s in December, with platforms required to take reasonable steps to keep children off their sites or face fines up to A$49.5 million. More than 4.7 million accounts were removed across 10 platforms in the first days.

TikTok announced it will roll out enhanced age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, using profile information and behavior to identify accounts potentially belonging to users under 13. The platform removes approximately 6 million underage accounts globally each month.

TikTok announced it will roll out enhanced age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, using profile information and behavior to identify accounts potentially belonging to users under 13. The platform removes approximately 6 million underage accounts globally each month.

Social media platforms are destroying children's lives through violent content, gang recruitment and mental health crises, with a 15-fold rise in eating disorders among teens. Parents overwhelmingly demand action — 86% want a ban and over 100,000 sent letters to MPs in just 36 hours — because they can't fight trillion-dollar attention economies alone. Setting age limits at 16 isn't government overreach; it's the same common-sense protection we apply to driving and drinking, giving childhood back to kids.

Social media platforms are destroying children's lives through violent content, gang recruitment and mental health crises, with a 15-fold rise in eating disorders among teens. Parents overwhelmingly demand action — 86% want a ban and over 100,000 sent letters to MPs in just 36 hours — because they can't fight trillion-dollar attention economies alone. Setting age limits at 16 isn't government overreach; it's the same common-sense protection we apply to driving and drinking, giving childhood back to kids.

Rigorous longitudinal research on 25,629 adolescents found zero evidence that social media or gaming causes mental health problems — the widely held view is simply wrong. Bans won't reduce screen time; kids will just migrate to other platforms or darker corners of the internet while losing vital support networks that LGBTQ+ youth especially depend on. The real solution is regulating platform design and algorithms, not stripping young people of their right to access information and develop digital literacy skills.

Rigorous longitudinal research on 25,629 adolescents found zero evidence that social media or gaming causes mental health problems — the widely held view is simply wrong. Bans won't reduce screen time; kids will just migrate to other platforms or darker corners of the internet while losing vital support networks that LGBTQ+ youth especially depend on. The real solution is regulating platform design and algorithms, not stripping young people of their right to access information and develop digital literacy skills.

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

UK Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s

United Kingdom

Children and youth

Media

Legislation

Social media platforms are destroying children's lives through violent content, gang recruitment and mental health crises, with a 15-fold rise in eating disorders among teens. Parents overwhelmingly demand action — as shown by the 100,000 letters sent to MPs in just 36 hours — because they can't fight trillion-dollar attention economies alone. Setting age limits at 16 isn't government overreach; it's the same common-sense protection we apply to driving and drinking, giving childhood back to kids.

Social media platforms are destroying children's lives through violent content, gang recruitment and mental health crises, with a 15-fold rise in eating disorders among teens. Parents overwhelmingly demand action — as shown by the 100,000 letters sent to MPs in just 36 hours — because they can't fight trillion-dollar attention economies alone. Setting age limits at 16 isn't government overreach; it's the same common-sense protection we apply to driving and drinking, giving childhood back to kids.

Contrary to popular belief, research on thousands of adolescentsrecently found zero evidence that social media or gaming causes mental health problems. Bans won't reduce screen time; kids will just migrate to other platforms or darker corners of the internet while losing vital support networks that youth, especially vulnerable youth, depend on. The real solution is regulating platform design and algorithms, not stripping young people of their right to access information and develop digital literacy skills.

Contrary to popular belief, research on thousands of adolescentsrecently found zero evidence that social media or gaming causes mental health problems. Bans won't reduce screen time; kids will just migrate to other platforms or darker corners of the internet while losing vital support networks that youth, especially vulnerable youth, depend on. The real solution is regulating platform design and algorithms, not stripping young people of their right to access information and develop digital literacy skills.

Starmer Signals Support for Teen Social Media Ban as Parents Petition

UKStarmer ConsidersSignals Support for Teen Social Media Ban foras Under-16sParents Petition

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Starmer Signals Support for Teen Social Media Ban as Parents Petition

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