UK Announces Social Media Ban For Children Under-16

In a landmark move to protect children online, the UK government bans teenagers under 16 from accessing high-risk social media platforms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the move as a “big moment” that would bring “real change” for children and their future, saying the measures are aimed at giving young people their childhood back.

The government says it will go further than a blanket ban on social media by blocking “harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s”. According to the official statements, these restrictions will apply to a wider range of online services, including gaming sites as well.
(updated on 15th june 2026)