Factbox: How will the UK ban on social media for under 16s work?

Snap

15/06/2026 10:29

    LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir
Starmer said he would impose a ban on social media sites for
children under 16 and restrictions on gaming and livestreaming
platforms to "give kids their childhood back". 
    Below are details of what is being banned, how the measures
will be enforced, and when they are expected to take effect:
    
    TIKTOK, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM BANNED
    The government said it would block children using social
media platforms whose purpose is to enable user-to-user social
interaction and  which allow users to post material with
algorithms. 
    This means the ban will include platforms like
Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, the
government said in a statement.
    The government said it did not intend for messaging services
like WhatsApp or music streaming services to be included in the
ban, and exemptions would be kept under review.
    
    HOW WILL THE BAN BE ENFORCED?
    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ban would be enforced
through action against social media platforms, rather than
seeking to fine children who find ways to circumvent it.
    The government said regulator Ofcom would conduct a rapid
study to establish the best way to verify if someone is over 16,
and would have a new enforcement strategy and funding.
    
    TIMING OF BAN
    Starmer said he was aiming to pass the relevant regulations
before Christmas and have the ban come into force early next
year. 
    A full response to the government's consultation on the
issue will be published in July, fleshing out details of the
policy.
    
    RESTRICTIONS ON GAMING SITES 
    The government also said it would block livestreaming and
stranger communication for under-16s, including gaming sites.   
    Starmer said this would prevent strangers contacting
children through these sites.
    
    GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK AT CURFEWS, RESTRICTIONS ON SCROLLING
    The government 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 the response next
month. 
    Restrictions on functionalities banned for those under 16
would be applied by default for 16- and 17-year-olds, the
government said.

 (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Alistair Smout; Editing by
Jan Harvey)
 ((Andrew.MacAskill@thomsonreuters.com; +447818584430; Reuters
Messaging: andrew.macaskill@thomsonreuters.com))