British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that major social media platforms will soon be restricted from users aged 16 and under in the United Kingdom.
Starmer said the move is the first step in moulding a new normal for future generations by protecting the youth against online abuse and excessive exposure to social media.
Regulations take effect in 2027
The UK is the latest nation to impose strict regulations on the use of social media by minors, arguing that tech giants have failed to do their part in prioritising the welfare of their young users globally.
According to Starmer, the restrictions will be applied to major social media platforms – Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X – and will be fully implemented from 2027 upon the decision of the British Parliament.
The approach will have similarities to Australia’s policies.
Starmer added that “romantic companion” services offered by artificial intelligence, on the other hand, would be only available to users aged 18 and above.
Parents slam lack of action
Much like the British government, parents have blamed tech giants for their lenient approach to curbing the addiction of youth to using social media, which has deprived them of the normal childhood they deserve.
Starmer stated that the changes are a gesture of giving back authority to parents who have been concerned about the welfare of their children while giving them a healthy life online in accordance with the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
He said the move was backed by thousands of parents, experts and even members of the younger generation based on a recent survey, with the ban seeking to shield youth from dangerous content and overly engaging online materials.
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Doubts and opposition to move
Despite the good intentions of the British government, the decision has also been met with criticisms and doubts on whether pushing such a regulation would be effective in the long term, with the United States in particular loudly expressing its opposition.
The US embassy in London said that banning minors from using social media would be a form of violation of their freedom of speech and put further burden on US-based technology firms.
Others claimed that the youth may opt to use unregulated social media platforms in secrecy to evade government monitoring, while some pointed out the risk of a breach of data privacy.
Other nations blocking social media
Several countries have launched their own regulations to limit the use of social media by young users, with Australia making the landmark step as the first in the world in December 2025.
China, India and Malaysia have since ordered social media to be restricted for users under 16 years old, with the Indian government pointing to the “predatory” nature of social media nowadays as users remain locked into their devices.
Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden are also set to join the movement in barring youth from accessing social media platforms, with bills making progress in their respective legislative bodies.
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