The United Kingdom will ban children under 16 from accessing social networks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the measure, which will come into effect at the beginning of next year, targets Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok platforms and is intended to protect minors from the risks of online interactions with strangers, reports IPN.
In a press conference, Keir Starmer mentioned that the ban will apply to services whose main function is social interaction and content publishing, including, in addition to the mentioned platforms, Snapchat and X networks. The British government intends to finalize the regulatory framework by Christmas, so that the restrictions can effectively be applied at the beginning of the year 2027.
In addition to the age restriction, the new regulations require platforms to limit live broadcasts for minors and block features that allow strangers to directly contact users under 16 years old. For 17-year-olds, this measure involves the automatic activation of safety settings, the aim being to ensure a gradual transition and avoid sudden exposure to online risks once the ban is lifted.
Regarding artificial intelligence, chatbots that simulate conversation will only be accessible to people over 18 years old. Meanwhile, the Government has clarified that it does not intend to include messaging applications, such as WhatsApp or Signal, in this prohibition.
At the same time, the pilot project tests on a sample of 300 young people the impact of various levels of restriction, from total prohibition to time or schedule limits, on their sleep and education, in order to gather essential data before the official implementation of the law.
The first country in the world that implemented such a measure is Australia, which made the decision last year. Recently, Greece also decided to ban social networks for children under 15 starting from 2027. A similar report was adopted by the European Parliament in November 2025, but the measure has not been adopted yet.
