The UK government has announced a social media ban for under-16s, to be introduced in early 2027.

The UK government has announced a social media ban for under-16s, to be introduced in early 2027. The ban will cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The government is also considering an overnight curfew and measures to stop infinite scrolling for under-18s.

Affected Platforms

The ban will cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. However, the government said it did not intend to include messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal in the social media ban. YouTube Kids, a version of the video-sharing app designed to be safe for children, will also not be included.

Restrictions and Regulations

Features including livestreaming and strangers being able to contact children will also be restricted. The government said that for the 'high risk' functions of livestreaming and chat with strangers, restrictions would be on by default for under-17s. AI 'romantic companion' chatbots will have to enforce a minimum age of 18, and AI chatbots more widely will have to restrict 'intimate functionalities' for under-18s.

Implementation and Reaction

The prime minister said the government plans to pass regulations before Christmas, allowing the ban to be introduced by spring 2027. The announcement follows a public consultation which received more than 116,000 responses. Some teenagers have expressed concern about how a social media ban will affect their ability to connect with friends and express themselves. Facebook and Instagram-owner Meta said a ban would not achieve the goal of keeping teenagers safe online.