The UK government is expected to announce plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from using major social media platforms. According to reports from The Guardian and the Financial Times, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil the policy in order to strengthen protections for young people online.
The proposed restrictions reportedly mirror measures adopted in Australia, where platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and X are restricted for users under 16.
Under the proposal, some online services such as gaming applications would remain available but would be required to remove features that allow younger users to communicate with strangers. The government is also considering restrictions on romantic and sexual AI chatbots for users under 18, alongside measures designed to curb excessive late-night screen time.
Experts believe that stronger safeguards are necessary as concerns grow about the impact of harmful online content on children and teenagers.
The UK government is expected to provide further details on enforcement and any required legislation in the coming weeks. The proposal could place the UK among the countries with the strictest online access rules for minors and may influence similar policy discussions in other parts of the world.
