Paul Sandle and Sarah YoungJun 16, 2026 – 1.49amBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would ban social media sites for under-16s and impose restrictions on gaming and live-streaming platforms, in a fightback against big tech that goes further than any other country.The sweeping changes will “give kids their childhood back”, Starmer told reporters, outlining measures against Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and other platforms, as well as gaming sites that allow strangers to contact children.ReutersSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
UK announces ‘Australia-plus’ social media ban for children
The UK will go further than Australia with controls on gaming platforms and the possibility of overnight curfews and curbs on infinite scrolling for under-18s.
TL;DRAI
UK bans under-16s from social media (Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram); the world's strictest youth access regulation. Compliance burden from age verification reshapes tech platforms' youth monetization; regulators globally expected to follow, raising regulatory risk for ad-dependent models.
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