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7 key social media ban facts and rules for all under 16s in UK

Under 16s in the UK will now be subject to a social media ban, Keir Starmer has announced

7 key social media ban facts for under 16s in UK

• In a "big moment for the country" the Prime Minister has announced a full ban on under-16s accessing social media platforms. The announcement was made at a Downing Street press conference today (Monday 15), following a massive public consultation that received 116,000 responses - the second-largest in history.
• The ban is expected to come into force in Spring 2027 said Sir Keir Starmer, with regulation 'hoping to pass before Christmas 2026.'
• The ban includes platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.
• Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will NOT be included in the social media ban.
• The Government said it will also implement blocks on functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites. Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for under 16 and 17-year-olds to prevent a cliff-edge at 16.
• The Government said it will also be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds and will set out more detail in July.
• So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar intimate functionalities will be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely.