The UK government has made clear it won’t be swayed by Washington’s displeasure over proposed social media restrictions targeting children under 16. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed on June 9 that Britain will move forward with the regulations, brushing aside concerns raised by the US embassy just days earlier.
What the UK is actually doing
The proposed rules would impose age or functionality restrictions on social media platforms for users under 16. A public consultation ran from March 2 to May 26, 2026, pulling in over 116,000 responses.
This isn’t the UK’s first swing at tech regulation. The Online Safety Act of 2023 already established a framework for holding platforms accountable for harmful content. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act of 2026 built on that foundation.
The enforcement teeth are real. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms that fail to meet child safety duties face fines of up to 10% of global revenue or £18 million, whichever is higher.
