LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / EuroWire / – The UK government has announced a social media ban for children under 16, setting out new online safety rules that will block major platforms from offering services to younger users. The measures target user-to-user services built around posting, sharing and algorithmic feeds. The plan names platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X. The first regulations are due before the end of 2026, with implementation planned for Spring 2027.
The social media ban forms part of a wider UK child online safety package. It also covers livestreaming, stranger contact and selected high-risk features on gaming and other online services. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said under-16s would still be able to use the internet for learning, news, games and messaging known friends or family. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not intended to fall under the social media ban.
The UK government said it will use an approach based on Australia’s social media age rules. The model focuses on platforms that enable social interaction and user-posted content with recommendation systems. A national consultation ran from March to May 2026 and drew more than 116,000 responses. Officials said nine in 10 parents supported a minimum social media age of 16. They also said two-thirds of young people backed limits for at least some platforms.
Age checks and platform duties
Ofcom will set out options for age assurance to confirm whether a user is over 16. The regulator will examine methods that are accurate, robust, reliable and fair. The plan places compliance duties on platforms rather than children. Existing online safety rules already require services to assess risks to children, reduce exposure to harmful material and apply stronger controls where age checks are needed.
The measures also set default limits for older teenagers. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds will still be able to access social media, but livestreaming and stranger contact will remain switched off by default. The same rules will apply across covered gaming services where those features create contact risks. The government said it will publish more detail in July on other design features, including overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s.
AI chatbot access rules
The package includes age limits for certain artificial intelligence chatbot services. Romantic companion chatbots designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar intimate functions on wider AI chatbot services will also face restrictions for under-18s. The rules add AI services to the UK’s broader online safety agenda, which already covers social media, search, gaming and other digital platforms used by children.
Parents and children do not need to take action before the new rules begin. Officials said further guidance will come before the 2027 start date. Ofcom said it stands ready to work with the government as detailed regulations take shape. The announcement adds a new age-based layer to the Online Safety Act framework, which has already brought duties on platforms to protect children from harmful content and illegal online activity.