UK Government Considers Following Australia in Social Media Ban for Under-16s 

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The UK government has called for public feedback in a consultation on potential plans to limit social media access to those over the age of 16, following concerns surrounding the impact of social media use on children. It seeks to examine how to enforce a ban, protect children’s data, and limit access to potentially addictive online tools.

The move echoes the landmark Australian Online Safety Amendment limiting children's exposure to harmful content, which came into effect on December 10, 2025. Under the new law, social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook, and YouTube are designated “Age‑Restricted Social Media Platforms” (ARSMPs) and must take "reasonable steps" to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. 

This includes using age verification methods like facial age estimation, digital ID, or credit card checks.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

As I have been clear, no option is off the table, including looking at what age children should be able to access social media and whether we need restrictions on things such as addictive features like infinite scrolling or streaks in apps.

Similar suggestions have been made in Malaysia, France, and on an EU-wide level. 

The UK’s Online Safety Act received Royal Assent on October 26, 2023, and has since been used to require pornographic websites to verify user ages. 

However, child protection charities like the NSPCC, Childnet, and Molly Rose Foundation have warned that a blanket ban on social media would “fail to deliver the improvement in children's safety and wellbeing that they so urgently need.”

The government will be studying the impact of the ban in Australia and intends to publish its response to the consultation by summer 2026 after collecting input from parents, young people, and interested parties.