UK bans social media for under-16s: Here’s when it starts and which apps are affected

What you need to know

The UK plans to ban social media access for under-16s, with the rules expected to take effect in 2027.
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X would be affected by the ban.
The proposal would also restrict livestreaming and communication with strangers on gaming platforms.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are exempted for now.

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced what could become one of the most aggressive social media crackdowns we’ve seen yet, unveiling plans to ban social media access for users under the age of 16 in the UK.

Starmer says the goal is to “set a new normal for future generations” and give children their childhoods back. According to him, parents have been calling for stronger protections for years, and the government now wants to introduce broader safeguards to address those concerns.

As part of the proposal, users under 16 would be blocked from accessing platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter). An exhaustive list of affected platforms has not yet been released, so it’s still unclear whether services like Bluesky or Reddit would also be included. More details are expected soon.

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According to the announcement, the measures would also require platforms to prevent children from livestreaming and from communicating with strangers on gaming platforms. Any feature involving communication between under-16s and unknown adults would be restricted.

We are banning social media access for under 16s.These days kids must find their feet in a world where technology intrudes into every area of their life.I just can’t let that go on anymore. So we’re giving children their childhoods back. pic.twitter.com/jn7iQrcwk8 June 15, 2026

These protections would reportedly be enabled by default for both 16 and 17-year-olds as well, in an effort to avoid what the government describes as a “cliff-edge” at age 16.

The government is also exploring additional measures, including overnight curfews for social media use and mandatory breaks in infinite scrolling feeds for users under 18. Further details on those proposals are expected in July.

For now, the government says messaging services such as Signal and WhatsApp would not be covered by the ban. The proposal would also require AI chatbot services that offer romantic companion features or simulate intimate relationships to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar roleplay and intimate features would have to be restricted for under-18s.

Starmer says the government plans to pass the legislation before Christmas this year, which would allow the measures to come into force in early 2027.

It’s also worth noting that this announcement comes just days after Apple unveiled a number of new child safety and parental control features across iOS, macOS, and iPadOS — something that we want Google to bring to Android.

So far, none of the major tech companies affected by the proposal have publicly commented on the UK’s plans. That said, we expect more responses and developments from both platform operators and regulators in the coming weeks.