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UK to ban social media for under-16s in world-first child protection move
🇪🇬 Egypt /Culture & Society

UK to ban social media for under-16s in world-first child protection move

From Egypt Independent · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The UK plans to ban social media access for children under 16, aiming to protect them from online harms.
  • The proposed ban will affect user-to-user platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with protections expected in Spring 2027.
  • Other countries like Spain and Australia have implemented similar bans, though effectiveness has been mixed, with many children finding ways around them.

Britain is set to implement one of the world's strictest social media bans for children under 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday. The government aims to protect young people from online dangers, with the proposed measures expected to take effect in Spring 2027.

The ban will target "user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material, alongside algorithms." This means popular platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X will be inaccessible to those under 16. Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will remain unaffected.

The UK will ban social media for under-16s, claiming that the planned measures will go “further than any country in the world” to protect children from online harms.

— Keir StarmerAnnouncement of the proposed social media ban for children.

Starmer stated the new rules would "back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world." The government plans to introduce the bill to lawmakers before Christmas. The UK's proposed legislation aims to go further than existing bans, including "world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children." These protections will also extend to online services like gaming sites.

The changes will back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world and help empower them by providing a clear decision on what is safe and age-appropriate for children.

— Keir StarmerStatement on the government's aim for the new social media regulations.

Several other countries have already introduced or are considering similar restrictions. Spain banned social media for under-16s in February, while Malaysia began enforcing its own ban earlier this month. France, Denmark, and Norway have also announced plans to limit children's social media access. Australia implemented a ban on 10 platforms for under-16s in December.

However, the effectiveness of such bans remains a concern. A survey in Australia found that approximately seven in 10 children who had social media accounts before the ban still retained access. Authorities there are investigating several major platforms for non-compliance, though no fines have yet been issued. The UK's proposed comprehensive model seeks to address these challenges by offering broader protections beyond a simple ban.

While there are fewer under-16s with social media accounts than there were four months ago, it is clear significant numbers of children aged under 16 are still on social media.

— Australia’s eSafety commissionerReport on the effectiveness of Australia's social media ban for children.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Egypt Independent in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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