Britain bans social media for under 16, Elon Musk calls it surveillance

Britain has announced plans to ban social media access for children under 16, drawing criticism from major tech companies and a sharp response from Elon Musk. The proposal, backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is expected to come into force next year if approved.

In Short

• Elon Musk calls the proposed ban a "government surveillance state"
• Meta, YouTube and Snapchat warn the move could push teens to less safe platforms
• UK plans to block under-16s from major social media apps including X, Instagram and TikTok

Britain's proposed ban on social media access for children under the age of 16 has sparked criticism from major technology companies and drawn a sharp reaction from Elon Musk, who suggested the policy could expand government surveillance.

The debate gained attention after AFP reported that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced a ban on social media for under-16s. French President Emmanuel Macron shared the post on social media and thanked Britain for joining what he described as a growing movement. Responding to the exchange, Musk wrote that the move was part of "a government surveillance state," accompanied by an angry emoji.

Starmer unveiled the proposal on Monday during a press conference in London, arguing that social media is having a harmful impact on children and teenagers. He said online platforms can make it easier for bullying and abuse to take place and may also affect young people's mental health.

Under the plan, teenagers below the age of 16 would be blocked from using major social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and X. The proposal would also introduce additional restrictions on certain online products, including limits on communication with strangers through gaming apps. Teenagers under 18 would also be prevented from using romantic AI chatbots designed to simulate intimate relationships.

Starmer acknowledged that the decision would not be without drawbacks but said the government believed the benefits outweighed the costs. He maintained that supporting technology innovation and protecting children online were not conflicting goals.

Tech companies warn of unintended consequences

Several major platforms have pushed back against the proposal, arguing that a blanket ban could create new risks rather than solve existing ones.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said similar measures in Australia had shown that bans can isolate young people from online communities and trusted sources of information while pushing them toward less regulated alternatives.

YouTube also criticised the proposal, saying broad restrictions could drive children away from supervised and moderated online experiences and towards anonymous services that may offer fewer safeguards.

Snapchat echoed those concerns, arguing that much of the activity on its platform involves communication between friends and family members. The company said disconnecting teenagers from those relationships may not improve safety and could instead encourage the use of less secure platforms.

The UK government said public consultation responses showed strong support for stricter rules, with nine out of ten parents backing a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media access. Officials also claimed that many young people supported restrictions on at least some social media services.

A key challenge will be enforcing the ban. Britain already uses age-verification systems under its Online Safety Act, with methods including facial age estimation, bank information checks, email-based verification and digital identification tools. Regulators are expected to study whether additional measures are needed to prevent underage users from bypassing the new restrictions. The proposal, backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is expected to come into force next year if approved.

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