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Jun 15, 2026
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UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s: Which Apps Will Be Affected and How Will It Work?

AI Summary
The UK government has announced a ban on social media access for under-16s as part of an online safety drive. The ban will affect major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook. The government plans to use a framework similar to Australia's to enforce the ban.

The UK's Social Media Ban for Under-16s

The UK government has announced a ban on social media access for under-16s as part of an online safety drive that includes a host of other restrictions. Keir Starmer said the changes were a “line in the sand” for tech companies that had failed to keep children safe.

Which Social Media Apps Will Be Banned for Under-16s?

Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook will all be blocked. The government is using the same framework as in Australia. It will ban under-16 access for “user-to-user platforms” that enable social interaction between users and allow them to post material – jargon for social media. This means every major platform is captured.

  • Messaging platforms WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the ban.
  • There will be a “narrowly defined” list of other exemptions, because the government does not want to hit music streaming or e-commerce platforms as well as educational services.

The Other Restrictions

The plan is being called an “Australia plus” ban because other measures are being introduced as well. Livestreaming and communication with strangers will be blocked for under-16s on a “wider range of online services” such as gaming sites, though these platforms have not been named.

  • These restrictions would be on by default for 17-year-olds to prevent a “cliff edge” scenario when teenagers turned 16.
  • So-called “romantic companion” chatbots, which simulate sexual relationships and roleplay with users, are to have an under-18 age limit.

How Will the Ban Be Enforced?

The announcement suggests that the government could harden – or at least modify – the age verification process already in place under the UK’s Online Safety Act, which is overseen by the UK’s communications watchdog, Ofcom.

  • The government has said Ofcom will conduct a “rapid study” on how to do age verification under the new measures.
  • Platforms and privacy advocates are concerned about the technical and political implications of – potentially – collecting a lot more information on social media users.

The Reaction to the Ban

The government said nine out of 10 parents who responded to the consultation supported a ban. It added that two-thirds of young people agreed that children younger than 16 should be blocked from using at least some social media platforms.

  • The Molly Rose Foundation, an online safety charity, has said a ban will leave parents with a “false sense of safety”.
  • YouTube expressed disappointment at the ban announcement, saying it could push children towards unsafe platforms.