UK announces Australia-style full ban on social media for under-16s

Britain on Monday became the fourth country, after Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, to ban social media platforms for all users under 16, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the move is necessary to protect children's wellbeing.

In Short

• New rules restrict livestreaming and stranger contact on gaming apps
• Social media curfews for children under consideration
• UK plans to ban 10 platforms as Australia did in 2025

Britain has become the fourth country, after Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, to ban social media use for children under 16, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the move is aimed at protecting children’s wellbeing.

Announcing the ban, Starmer said, "We are banning social media access for under 16s. These days kids must find their feet in a world where technology intrudes into every area of their life. I just can’t let that go on anymore. So we’re giving children their childhoods back."

The new “Australia-plus” approach will also restrict livestreaming on platforms considered safer and prevent children from interacting with strangers on gaming apps, according to British government officials, the BBC reported.

Ministers are also considering social media curfews for children, although further details on that part of the plan will not be published until next month. The move comes a fortnight after the close of the government’s three-month consultation, which examined both an outright ban and a range of other steps aimed at limiting children’s exposure to harmful online features.

Australia brought in the world’s first full social media ban for under-16s in December 2025. According to a report in The Sunday Times, the UK is expected to apply a ban covering the same 10 platforms barred in Australia for that age group: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, X, Threads, Facebook and Kick. The report said the UK would go further than Australia by adding measures such as curfews for older teenagers and limits on AI chatbots.

Starmer said keeping children safe online was one of the biggest debates of the time and said every parent wanted their child to grow up safe and happy.

He said the government had to choose between backing families across the country and maintaining a system that was not working. He added that people expected action, that the government would stand up for parents and put children first, and that it would call time on a system that was failing children and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life.

The consultation also sought views on less sweeping measures. These included turning off features such as infinite scroll and autoplay, introducing curfews, strengthening age verification and limiting the use of AI chatbots. The survey received 116,000 responses. Of the parents who took part, 90% supported a social media ban for under-16s, while more than 83% said the risks of social media outweighed its benefits.

However, some campaigners have argued that such broad restrictions would create more problems. The government’s plans, expected to be set out on Monday, combine a proposed platform ban with further restrictions on livestreaming, contact with strangers on gaming apps and possible curfews still under consideration.

- Ends