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

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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

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Giving children their childhoods back

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Index.Aspx

Guardian

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

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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

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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'

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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?

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media access for children under 16 on Monday, with regulations expected to pass before Christmas and protections set to come into force in spring 2027.

Politics UK

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media access for children under 16 on Monday, with regulations expected to pass before Christmas and protections set to come into force in spring 2027.

The government has claimed it "plans to use the same model" as Australia's social media ban, focusing on algorithmic user-to-user platforms, whilst by blocking livestreaming functions and stranger communications. Extending function restrictions, such as overnight curfews and infinite scroll breaks, to under-18s will also be considered.

The government has claimed it "plans to use the same model" as Australia's social media ban, focusing on algorithmic user-to-user platforms, whilst by blocking livestreaming functions and stranger communications. Extending function restrictions, such as overnight curfews and infinite scroll breaks, to under-18s will also be considered.

The ban has been explicitly announced for Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, with messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal named as being excluded from the restrictions.

The ban has been explicitly announced for Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, with messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal named as being excluded from the restrictions.

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.

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.

Powers to implement social media restrictions for children have already been passed within the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The announcement comes following a government consultation which saw more than 116,000 responses, and comes during the week of the Makerfield by-election.

Powers to implement social media restrictions for children have already been passed within the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The announcement comes following a government consultation which saw more than 116,000 responses, and comes during the week of the Makerfield by-election.

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.

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Social media is actively harming kids — making them anxious, exposing them to predators and explicit content, and hijacking their attention with addictive design. Banning under-16s from these platforms is a decisive, well-researched move backed by months of consultation with parents and young people. Children deserve a childhood free from the grip of the world's most powerful tech companies.

Social media is actively harming kids — making them anxious, exposing them to predators and explicit content, and hijacking their attention with addictive design. Banning under-16s from these platforms is a decisive, well-researched move backed by months of consultation with parents and young people. Children deserve a childhood free from the grip of the world's most powerful tech companies.

Age bans don't keep kids off social media — Australia's own eSafety Commissioner admits the policy failed, and the UK is copying that same broken model. Worse, enforcing these bans means forcing every internet user to hand over personal ID to companies with serious histories of data leaks. Targeted platform accountability and parental tools are the smarter, safer path forward.

Age bans don't keep kids off social media — Australia's own eSafety Commissioner admits the policy failed, and the UK is copying that same broken model. Worse, enforcing these bans means forcing every internet user to hand over personal ID to companies with serious histories of data leaks. Targeted platform accountability and parental tools are the smarter, safer path forward.

The Anxious Generation

UK Bans Under-16s From Social Media

Media

Politics

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United Kingdom

Social media is making children anxious, exposing them to predators and explicit content and hijacking their attention with addictive design. Banning under-16s from these platforms is a decisive, well-researched move backed by months of consultation with parents and young people. Children deserve a childhood free from the grip of the world's most powerful tech companies.

Social media is making children anxious, exposing them to predators and explicit content and hijacking their attention with addictive design. Banning under-16s from these platforms is a decisive, well-researched move backed by months of consultation with parents and young people. Children deserve a childhood free from the grip of the world's most powerful tech companies.

Age bans don't keep kids off social media. Australia's own eSafety Commissioner has already admitted the policy isn't working, and yet the U.K. is copying the very same broken model. Worse, enforcing these bans means forcing every internet user to hand over personal ID to companies with serious histories of data leaks. This is the worst of both worlds: a superficial digital intervention at the expense of civil liberties.

Age bans don't keep kids off social media. Australia's own eSafety Commissioner has already admitted the policy isn't working, and yet the U.K. is copying the very same broken model. Worse, enforcing these bans means forcing every internet user to hand over personal ID to companies with serious histories of data leaks. This is the worst of both worlds: a superficial digital intervention at the expense of civil liberties.

Social media is an important tool for young people, with a ban stripping away vital access to community connection and education. Misleading accusations of a digital wild west actively undermines the thorough work that social media platforms have undertaken for years to protect and support both children and parents online. This decision is a disappointing mistake driven by politics rather than evidence.

Social media is an important tool for young people, with a ban stripping away vital access to community connection and education. Misleading accusations of a digital wild west actively undermines the thorough work that social media platforms have undertaken for years to protect and support both children and parents online. This decision is a disappointing mistake driven by politics rather than evidence.

There is an 80% chance that Keir Starmer will cease to be U.K. prime minister in 2026, according to te Metaculus prediction community.

There is an 80% chance that Keir Starmer will cease to be U.K. prime minister in 2026, according to te Metaculus prediction community.

UK: Starmer Accounces Under-16 Social Media Ban

UK: BansStarmer Accounces Under-16s16 From Social Media Ban

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UK: Starmer Accounces Under-16 Social Media Ban

UK: BansStarmer Accounces Under-16s16 From Social Media Ban

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