By
Leigh Kiniry,
Emmet Lyons
Producer
Emmet Lyons is a news desk editor at the CBS News London bureau, coordinating and producing stories for all CBS News platforms. Prior to joining CBS News, Emmet worked as a producer at CNN for four years.
U.K. announces plan to ban social media for children under 16
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hopes to have a ban on kids using social media that is "designed to be addictive" enacted by early next year.
TL;DRAI
UK bans under-16s from social media (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X) and under-18s from AI companions; enforced spring 2027 with fines. Australia's 2025 ban saw 70% bypass; signals regulatory pressure on age-gating—critical CTO priority for EMEA compliance and product strategy.
1,139 words~5 min read
