U.K. announces under-16 social media ban, set for 2027

The U.K. government has announced a sweeping plan to ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and X. The policy is expected to be passed into law before the end of 2025 andcome into effect in the second quarter of 2027.

Modelled closely on Australia’s approach, the ban will extend beyond social media to restrict under-16s from livestreaming and interacting with strangers online — measures the government describes as “world-leading.” Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not included in the restrictions. Gaming platforms will also fall under the wider rules.

Enforcement remains the central challenge

Australia introduced similar restrictions in December 2024, and the U.K. government has acknowledged their shortcomings. Despite the ban, the Australian government’s own research confirms most underage teens continue to access social media. The U.K. has pledged to “learn the lessons from Australia’s experience,” with Ofcom commissioned to conduct an urgent review of age assurance methods and enforcement capabilities.

Meta’s global safety head, Antigone Davis, has raised concerns that without a proven, privacy-preserving age verification system in place, the policy risks repeating Australia’s failures — pushing teens toward less moderated, unmonitored platforms rather than keeping them offline.

Fundamental questions about digital habits persist

Critics argue the proposals misread how deeply digital interaction is embedded in young people’s lives today. Banning specific platforms may simply redirect teens to less regulated spaces, while desktop access — widely used for school — remains virtually impossible to restrict. Until a reliable, ecosystem-wide age verification method exists, the effectiveness of the ban remains far from certain.