Key Facts

• The UK government plans to ban users under 16 from accessing social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X, by spring 2027, with the aim of making the online world safer for young people.
• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the ban is necessary for the safety and happiness of children, saying, "I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen, and why this ban will happen."
• The government aims to pass the regulation before Christmas and will require over-16s to verify their ages to continue using social media platforms, although many adults will not need to do checks due to existing verified accounts or linked credit cards.
• Certain features, such as livestreaming and strangers being able to contact children, will be restricted for under-16s, while messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, and online gaming platform Roblox will not be banned.
• The ban follows a three-month consultation that received over 116,000 responses, with 90% of parents backing a social media ban for under-16s, citing that the risks of social media outweigh its benefits.