Under-16s in the United Kingdom will no longer be allowed to access several social media platforms following a major policy announcement by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The UK joins countries such as Australia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia that have introduced or are introducing age-based restrictions on minors’ access to social networks.

Starmer, who warned that he is “not prepared to compromise on the safety and wellbeing of our children,” said the measure will come into effect early next year. However, he did not specify which platforms will be affected.

The decision is part of a broader global trend aimed at strengthening online child protection. Several countries, including Spain, Denmark and South Korea, are currently considering similar legislation, while France continues to debate different regulatory approaches for teenagers’ access to social media.

Stronger enforcement measures

The UK government is expected to require tech companies to implement “reasonable measures” to prevent underage access. These may include age verification technologies such as facial or voice recognition, official ID checks, or AI-based age inference systems.

Starmer also suggested that the UK would go further than Australia by introducing additional restrictions, including possible curfews for older teenagers and tighter rules on AI chatbots.

Global context

Australia recently became the first country to fully ban social media use for under-16s, restricting access to platforms such as TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat.

Under the Australian system, companies—not parents or children—are held responsible for enforcement, with fines reaching up to AUD 49.5 million for serious violations.

Debate over effectiveness

The UK move has sparked debate among experts. Some warn it could push young users toward less regulated platforms or workarounds.

“As a technical matter, controlling devices is extremely difficult,” said Professor Jon Crowcroft of the University of Cambridge. “It is easier to regulate platforms, but regulators must actually enforce it.”