Sir Keir Starmer stood in Downing Street and made the long-awaited announcement: children under 16 will be banned from social media, following Australia's model. The prime minister described the move as “bold and blunt”, adding: “It will make a huge difference, it will make our children safer, it will make our children happier, it will give them more time, more security, more freedom to grow up, more opportunity.” But within hours of the news, the UK’s largest technology companies pushed back, warning the blanket ban could do more harm than good.
TikTok said it shared the government’s goal of safe online experiences, pointing to its existing 50-plus safety settings for teens, but added it would examine the details. YouTube was more direct: “Blanket bans push kids out of such curated, supervised, beneficial experiences and towards anonymous, less-safe services.” Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, argued that “bans risk isolating teens from online communities and information, and driving them to unregulated alternatives.”
“Keir Starmer announced a social media ban for under-16s, with tech firms warning it could drive children to unsafe alternatives.”
The ban, which will also impose a night-time curfew on 16- and 17-year-olds, is expected to take effect next spring. Platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram will be required to verify users’ ages from the outset, and must prevent children from live-streaming – including on gaming platforms like Discord. WhatsApp and Signal are likely exempt as messaging apps, while YouTube Kids will remain accessible. However, gaming platforms like Roblox are not explicitly covered, though their livestreaming functions will be disabled.
How the rules will be enforced remains the central question. The BBC’s technology editor, Zoe Kleinman, noted that tech industry contacts were “blindsided” that Apple and Google will not be required to gatekeep apps at the device level; instead, individual platforms must implement age verification. Australia’s own ban has faced problems – the majority of children who had accounts before it was enforced in December still have them. Tim Levy, managing director of digital safeguarding company Qoria, cautioned against following Australia’s lead, citing statistics that seven in 10 parents say their children still use the banned services.
Starmer acknowledged the ban would not be a “silver bullet”, comparing it to laws on alcohol: some under-18s still drink, but the law prevents many. The full policy is due in July. For now, young people across the UK – who, according to a government consultation, overwhelmingly want stronger protections online – are waiting to see whether this blunt instrument will deliver the safety they were promised.