By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
U.K June 15, 2026 - The UK government has announced the decision to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as an important step towards holding technology companies accountable for online safety citing that the legislation will be introduced in Parliament before Christmas, with the new restrictions expected to take effect by spring 2027.
Under the proposed rules, platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X will be prohibited for users under the age of 16. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will be exempt.
Speaking in a televised address, Starmer defended the decision, saying protecting children online outweighed concerns about access to digital platforms.
"A full ban is the right choice. I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children," he said.
Beyond restricting access to social media platforms, the UK government said it plans to block features considered harmful to young users, including livestreaming and communication with strangers.
The measures will also extend to gaming platforms and certain artificial intelligence applications.
Restrictions on livestreaming and communication with strangers will be enabled by default for 16 and 17-year-olds to "prevent a cliff-edge at 16," the government said.
Officials are also considering additional safeguards, including overnight curfews and mandatory breaks from infinite scrolling for older teenagers, with further details expected in July.
The UK will also introduce stricter controls on artificial intelligence chatbots. Under the proposed framework, "romantic companion" chatbots designed to simulate intimate or sexual relationships will be restricted to users aged 18 and above, while other AI platforms offering similar features will face tighter age-verification requirements.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement, noting that coordinated international action is necessary to regulate global technology firms.
"Social media giants operate across borders. By standing together, we can do more to hold them accountable and keep children safe online," Albanese said in a post on X.
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The move follows Australia's landmark legislation introduced in December 2025, making it the first country to implement a nationwide social media ban for children under 16.
However, Australia's experience has highlighted the challenges of enforcing such restrictions.
According to Australia's eSafety Commissioner, many children have found ways to bypass age verification systems, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing technologies.
Data from the regulator shows that more than 70 per cent of parents believe their children continue to access social media despite the ban.
Although technology companies deactivated nearly five million accounts by January, authorities say a significant number of under-16s have either retained their profiles, created new accounts or circumvented age checks.
One Australian student recently told the BBC that in a class of more than 170 students, only three had been removed from social media platforms.
Despite the enforcement challenges, Australian authorities say they remain committed to the policy. The eSafety Commission is currently investigating potential non-compliance by major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
No penalties have been issued so far.
The UK's proposed restrictions are among the most far-reaching measures announced globally and could intensify pressure on governments around the world to strengthen protections for children online.
By moving beyond platform bans to include restrictions on livestreaming, communication with strangers and AI chatbots, Britain says it intends to "go further than any other country" in regulating children's online experiences.