GOV.UK

Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back

Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

Beyond the Headlines: Metas Record of Protecting Teens and Supporting Parents

Google

Beyond bans: Supporting teens in their digital lives

Unherd

Why I no longer support social media bans for teenagers

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Internet Age-Gates Are a Growing Global Threat

Big Brother Watch UK

Big Brother Watch responds to PM's Social Media Ban announcement  Big Brother Watch

Children's Commissioner for England

Statement from the Childrens Commissioner on the social media ban for under 16s

Substack

Giving children their childhoods back

Wigan Council

Index.Aspx

Guardian

Social media to be banned in UK for under-16s, Starmer announces

BBC News

When will social media ban start, and which platforms are affected?

Legislation

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

YouGov

Would you support or oppose banning children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts?

Eight in ten parents say social media use has a negative impact on children

PolitlcsUK

Keir_Starmer

Daily Mail

Starmer rushes out social media ban for under-16s as he desperately hunts for a legacy before Burnham launches 'immediate' challenge 'this week'

GB News

Keir Starmer announces social media ban for under-16s as he vows to protect children online

Independent

How will under-16s be banned from social media in the UK and when will it start?

Metaculus

Will Starmer Leave Office In 2026

Anthony Albanese

9News Australia

Terry Flew

Australian Human Rights Commission

Aaron Mackey

Joanne Orlando

Melissa McIntosh

Damini Satija

Julie Inman Grant

Timothy Koskie

"They took the easy option, and it will fail."

“New accounts are being created and the age-verification tools that the government assured Australians would be effective, have proven laughably easy to bypass with some makeup and good lighting.”

“Tech-savvy teens simply use VPNs, fake birth photos for face scans, or migrate to less regulated platforms like Lemon8, or to platforms not part of the ban like video games. Enforcement is proving to be difficult in the days leading up to the ban.”

"Some verification methods are often inaccurate while others are easily circumvented.”

"Technological workarounds – such as VPNs and false age declarations – may undermine the effectiveness of the ban."

"This law will also push many users toward platforms that are more personal and private, like Telegram channels, WhatsApp Communities, and Signal Groups, which are not currently banned because they are important tools for encrypted and direct communication."

David Inserra

“Ultimately, reducing online harm would be a great outcome; however, we know from evidence that ‘banning’ anything from young people won’t work on its own.”

Louise La Sala

“There’s a fair amount of teething problems around it. Many young people have been posting on TikTok that they successfully evaded the age limitations and that’s to be expected.”

"I think it will help a lot of parents because it's not them saying no, it's an actual law."

Cassie Xintavelonis

“We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol.”

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear national standard.”

"Just as the banning of phones in school classrooms by many state governments hasn't on day one led to perfect compliance, now it's just accepted that there are improved educational outcomes, improved behaviour, improved social outcomes as a result."

"Australia's social media ban is already driving change, and is proof that the threat of regulation works, even before the law takes effect. Waiting for perfect policy risks paralysis when real progress is already within reach.”

Will Australia's Under 16 Social Media Ban be Effective?

Richard Tice

Polymarket

Kalshi

Ipsos 

Oddschecker

The Sun

Keir Starmer

The Times

Tom Baldwin

Scott McGlynn

Jonathan Brash

The New World

Esther Krakue

William Kedjanyi

Will Hazell

Dan Hodges

Andy Preston

"He's doomed, he will be gone - I thought he'd be gone by now. I was wrong. But I do think he's got just a few months in him."

"There is a 6% chance Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister at the end of 2026."

"84% of bets back a 2026 exit for Keir Starmer."

"There is a 62% chance Keir Starmer will be out before Sep 1, 2026."

"There's a 32% chance Keir Starmer will remain Prime Minister in 2026."

"43% think that Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister at the end of the year."

"These things turn around very, very fast and anyone making predictions in the current atmosphere is a fool."

"As much as MPs might want him to go, he is unlikely to acquiesce."

"There is only a 64% likelihood that he will still be in Downing Street by 31 December 2026."

“I will be sitting in this seat by 2027 and if this long-form interview works, we can try it again in January of next year as well.”

Will Keir Starmer Remain Prime Minister Through to the End of 2026?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media access for children under 16, with regulations expected to pass before Christmas and protections set to come into force in spring 2027. Platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and Snapchat will be covered by the ban.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media access for children under 16, with regulations expected to pass before Christmas and protections set to come into force in spring 2027. Platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and Snapchat will be covered by the ban.

The UK government said its measures will go further than Australia's by blocking harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication for under-16s across social media and gaming platforms. Messaging services WhatsApp and Signal are exempt from the ban.

The UK government said its measures will go further than Australia's by blocking harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication for under-16s across social media and gaming platforms. Messaging services WhatsApp and Signal are exempt from the ban.

AI "romantic companion" chatbots designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay will be required to enforce a minimum age of 18. Broader restrictions on intimate functionalities will also apply to AI chatbots more widely for under-18s.

Politics UK

AI "romantic companion" chatbots designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay will be required to enforce a minimum age of 18. Broader restrictions on intimate functionalities will also apply to AI chatbots more widely for under-18s.

A government consultation that closed May 26 drew more than 116,000 responses, making it one of the largest in UK history. Nine in 10 parents backed a minimum age of 16 for social media access, while two-thirds of young respondents agreed children under 16 should not access at least some platforms.

A government consultation that closed May 26 drew more than 116,000 responses, making it one of the largest in UK history. Nine in 10 parents backed a minimum age of 16 for social media access, while two-thirds of young respondents agreed children under 16 should not access at least some platforms.

A YouGov survey of parents found 77% support a social media ban for under-16s, while 82% believe social media has a negative impact on children generally. However, 46% of parents doubted the ban would be effective, and 59% of the wider public shared that skepticism.

A YouGov survey of parents found 77% support a social media ban for under-16s, while 82% believe social media has a negative impact on children generally. However, 46% of parents doubted the ban would be effective, and 59% of the wider public shared that skepticism.

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act grants the Secretary of State power to require internet service providers to prevent or restrict children's access to specified online services or features. Ofcom has been asked to conduct a rapid study on effective age assurance methods and to publish an enforcement strategy as soon as possible.

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act grants the Secretary of State power to require internet service providers to prevent or restrict children's access to specified online services or features. Ofcom has been asked to conduct a rapid study on effective age assurance methods and to publish an enforcement strategy as soon as possible.

UK Bans Under-16s From Social Media

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UK Bans Under-16s From Social Media

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