The UK just drew a line in the digital sand. On June 15, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government announced a ban preventing social media platforms from serving users under the age of 16, one of the most aggressive internet restrictions ever proposed by a Western democracy.
The policy, spearheaded by Tech Secretary Liz Kendall, targets Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. It’s scheduled to take effect in spring 2027, with regulations earmarked for parliamentary approval by year’s end.
What’s banned, what’s not, and how it works
The ban isn’t a blanket internet restriction for minors. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are exempt, as are educational resources like YouTube Kids.
Beyond the outright ban for under-16s, the policy also restricts certain platform features for users under 18. Infinite scrolling, autoplay, and interactions with strangers are all on the chopping block for that age group.
