UK plans social media ban for under-16s in 2027 (opens in new tab)

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK will ban children under 16 from major social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, while excluding messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal. The government says the measure aims to protect children from harmful content, excessive screen time and platform designs it describes as addictive. The proposal would also restrict under-16s from livestreaming and communicating with strangers on a wider set of onlin...