Major new online safety reforms mean children under 16 will soon be banned from using social media.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced under 16s will be banned from a range of social media platforms in a "big moment for our country" at a Downing Street press conference this morning (June 15).
The move comes in response to overwhelming support during a government consultation, which found that 91% of parents backed raising the minimum age for social media access to 16 in the UK.
🚨 NEW: Under-16s in the UK will be banned from the following 10 social media apps
TikTok
YouTube
Snapchat
X
Twitch
Kick
Threads— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 14, 2026
Social media ban for under 16s announced
Sir Keir Starmer said this morning: "This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong.
"But government is always about choices, and it's clear to me that a full ban is the right choice", reports Sky News.
When will the social media ban for children come into force?
The ban will come into full effect by spring 2027.
Sir Keir Starmer vowed to "call time on a system that’s failing our kids" ahead of his announcement of the ban.
He promised "bold action" in response to calls for change from parents, after the vast majority responding to the government consultation backed a minimum age of 16 before children can access social media platforms.
Discussing the start date, he said he is "very conscious that with the Online Safety Act, it took the last government eight years" to get the legislation put into place.
He added: "I was determined that will not happen in this case, so we took the powers early.
"We hope to pass regulation before Christmas, and therefore to bring the ban into force in the early part of next year, probably about springtime."
What apps will the social media ban include?
Following Australia’s example, the ban would apply to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit.
While the UK’s ban will be similar to Australia’s, it will go further by including romantic or sexual AI chatbots, and children could also be blocked from chatting to strangers on gaming platforms, according to The Sunday Times.
The newspaper reported that daily social media use will be limited for under-18s in a bid to stop late-night scrolling.
The public consultation on the issue, which closed on May 26, received about 116,000 responses, making it the second-largest in history.
More than 83% of parents who responded said social media risks outweigh the benefits for children – with 91% backing a minimum age of 16 before platforms can offer their services to children.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of children who responded said restricting the high-risk features would make them safer online.
But 72% also said they were worried about feeling left out if restrictions came in.
Sir Keir said: "How we keep kids safe online is one of the biggest debates of our time.
"As a dad, I know every parent wants their child to grow up safe and happy.
"This is a choice about whose side we’re on: families across the country, or a status quo that isn’t working.
"People rightly expect action, and this government will always stand up for parents and put children first.
"That’s why we will call time on a system that’s failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life."
It comes after Sir Keir issued a three-month ultimatum to Apple and Google last week to make it technologically impossible for children to take, share or view nude images on their smartphones.
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