The United Kingdom government has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, citing growing concerns about the impact of online platforms on young people’s safety, wellbeing, and mental health.
The announcement was made by Keir Starmer, who described the move as a necessary step to protect children from the harmful effects of social media and what he called an increasingly challenging digital environment. The policy is expected to be introduced through legislation later this year, with implementation targeted for Spring 2027.
Speaking as both a parent and national leader, Starmer said his primary concern has always been the safety and happiness of children.
“Every parent wants the best for their kids and that’s what being a parent means.”
“For my two kids, all I’ve ever wanted, hand on heart, is for them to be safe and for them to be happy.”
He argued that children today face challenges previous generations did not encounter because technology now influences nearly every aspect of their lives.
“These days, kids have to find their feet in a world that changes so quickly, where technology intrudes into every area of their lives.”
According to the Prime Minister, thousands of parents who participated in government consultations expressed concern about the effects of social media on young people.
“The response from parents in the consultation has been absolutely clear. Thousands of parents say their children are addicted to social media.”
He warned that excessive use of social media can negatively affect children’s wellbeing.
“It can leave them trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep and time with the family. It can harm their mental health and frankly, parents need our support on this.”
Announcing the policy, Starmer declared:
“That is why today, the government has decided to ban social media access for children under 16.”
The UK government said the restrictions will apply to major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, X, and YouTube, while additional safeguards are also being introduced for gaming and livestreaming services.
Starmer acknowledged that enforcing the ban will not be straightforward.
“It’s a big step for our country. Now, it’s not an easy thing to do, I’ll be honest about that. We haven’t rushed into it, we’ve looked carefully at the evidence and we’ll have to adapt our approach as technology changes.”
The Prime Minister also admitted that some of the world’s biggest technology companies oppose the move but insisted the government would proceed regardless.
“It’s fair to say that this decision has been resisted and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world, but we will take them on and we will win because the need for action could not be any clearer.”
Concluding his remarks, Starmer said the policy is ultimately about giving children a safer upbringing.
“Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore because our children deserve better.”
“They deserve a happy, safe childhood in a stronger, fairer Britain.”
