UK Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s

“Social media makes children unhappy,” said the Prime Minister. He noted that the decision was not an easy one, as social media has also brought benefits to young people. Nevertheless, given the risks and negative consequences, a complete ban is the right decision. “Today is a big day for our country,” said Starmer.

The United Kingdom is thus following Australia’s lead. In December 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a general social media ban for those under 16. Since then, more and more European countries have sought to follow suit.

Starmer also announced “world-leading” measures regarding gaming and live-streaming platforms. Under these measures, adult strangers will no longer be able to use the chat function to contact children.

Ban can be circumvented

Critics of a ban fear, among other things, that it could be easily circumvented by teenagers. In Australia, for example, many young people were able to continue using platforms despite the ban by accessing VPN services or creating accounts with a fake birthdate.

Discussions regarding restrictions on social media platforms for minors are currently taking place in many European countries. Several EU countries, including France, Spain, Greece, Norway, and Austria, have already announced plans to enact laws banning social media for minors under a certain age. This is another reason why the European Union is under pressure, as only the European Commission has the authority to regulate major platform operators.