Following countries like Australia and Canada, the UK has also joined the ranks of countries that strictly regulate access by minors to social platforms.
According to the Associated Press, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced at a press conference on June 15 local time that the UK would ban people under the age of 16 from using certain social media platforms, calling this an “important moment for the UK”. He also stated that if tech companies resist the new regulations, the government will take firm action.
According to reports, this measure is aimed at protecting children from harmful content and reducing the time they spend using electronic devices excessively. He stated that he “will not compromise on matters related to the safety and happiness of children.”
This ban mainly applies to platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Daily instant messaging tools like WhatsApp and Signal are not subject to the restrictions.
Stamer stated that the success of the ban will be reflected in "a significant decrease in the number of children using social media," and it will bring about "cultural changes, making people realize that children can indeed have different ways of growing up."
Despite some child rights advocates being skeptical about this regulation, Stam expressed that the government "believes that this ban will have an effect."
According to reports, before this decision was made, the government publicly solicited opinions and received 116,000 responses from parents, the technology industry, and children. The British government stated that more than 90% of the respondents supported a ban on teenagers under the age of 16 using social media.
Guy’s 16-year-old daughter was killed in 2023 by two teenagers who had accessed harmful online content. She said this ban “could save many children’s lives,” but it needs to be implemented along with other measures.
She told the BBC that she is happy that 'the government is investing in after-school clubs, because we cannot just ban children from accessing the internet'.
On June 15, 2026, local time, in Downing Street, London, UK, British Prime Minister Sturgeon held a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office. IC photo
Currently, many countries around the world are tightening regulations on children's online safety. Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have already introduced relevant laws, or announced age restrictions for children using social media. Countries such as France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, and South Korea are also researching or developing similar regulatory measures.
Stammer said that Britain’s measures are “likely to be more stringent than Australia’s ban”. Australia has banned minors under 16 from creating social media accounts. Tech companies will face fines of millions of dollars if they do not delete the offending accounts.
He added that the government will also take action to prevent strangers from contacting children through gaming and live streaming platforms. The ban is expected to come into effect in early 2027.
It is worth noting that a statement from the U.S. Embassy in London stated that Britain’s latest ban could further exacerbate tensions with the United States. The U.S. has warned that the scope of regulation should be limited, and that it must not infringe upon freedom of expression. Additionally, there are concerns that such regulations could burden American technology companies.
Stammer said that he expects to discuss this issue with U.S. President Trump and other leaders at the G7 Summit. “I truly believe that all leaders agree that leaders must take measures to protect children. I don’t see any controversy around this. Of course, there will be different opinions regarding the specific boundaries of these measures and what rules should be established, but I don’t think this will be a problem.”
Professor Jon Crowcroft of the University of Cambridge's Department of Communication Systems believes that those who support social bans have good intentions, but may be heading in the wrong direction. Such restrictions could hinder children from accessing the websites they need.
This ban has inherent risks, which could drive some users to worse websites. From a technical standpoint, regulating devices is almost impossible. If regulatory agencies were willing to do so, regulating platforms would be much easier, according to Crocker-Grove.
