UK: Social media ban for under 16s — implications for platform operators and age assurance

On 15 June 2026, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a social media ban for under-16s. The ban follows a public consultation which received more than 116,000 responses. Legislation is expected to be passed before Christmas 2026 and come into force by spring 2027.

Calling the announcement “a line in the sand”, Sir Keir noted that the ban was designed to protect children from online dangers such as explicit material, bullying and addictive features like infinite scroll.

The details

A full list of covered platforms has not yet been released. The government has confirmed the ban will apply to user-to-user platforms “whose purpose is to enable social interaction, and which allow users to post material”, including Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and X. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and Discord, plus music streaming platforms and educational services, are excluded. Operators of other user-to-user platforms, including gaming platforms with social features, community forums and marketplaces enabling user interaction, should monitor developments closely to understand the final scope and whether similar approaches may be extended.

The ban mirrors similar measures introduced in Australia in 2025 and reflects a wider global trend in this direction. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 25 countries to-date have at least partial social media age restrictions in force, enacted, or under active consideration, including Spain, Portugal, France, Malaysia, Canada, and Norway.

Alongside the social media ban, the following measures were also announced:

• For ‘high-risk’ functions, such as children either live-streaming or chatting with strangers, restrictions will be turned on by default for under-17s, to guard against a ‘cliff-edge’ at 16.

• The government is exploring overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s. Further details are expected in July 2026.

• Under-18s will be prevented from accessing AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots designed to simulate sexual relationships or role play romantic relationships. AI chatbots more widely will also have to restrict any ‘intimate functionalities’ for under-18s.

Operators outside the ban’s immediate scope should consider whether their services include social features that could attract future regulatory attention. The focus on ‘high-risk’ functions and user interaction suggests a broader policy direction that may extend to gaming platforms, online marketplaces and other services enabling user communication, particularly where children and young adults form a significant user base.

Age assurance

Details on enforcement and age assurance remain unclear. Ofcom has been asked to conduct a rapid study into the most effective ways to verify whether someone is over 16. The government says it will learn from Australia’s experience, where many under-16s kept accounts, created new ones or bypassed systems using virtual private networks.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has said it will continue engaging with government, following its consultation response, to ensure any legislative changes “deliver robust protection for children online”. It also stressed that existing data protection law continues to apply while changes are developed.

While the government claims that two thirds of young people support the ban, the announcement has received a mixed reception. Critics have suggested that the proposals could push children to unregulated online spaces. Others have highlighted the failure to address core issues like algorithms that recommend harmful content or addictive design features.

We expect the ‘highly effective age assurance’ (HEAA) strategies supporting the ban to build on those introduced under the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA), given the shared online safety objective. Under the OSA, HEAA methods include facial age estimation, open banking checks, email-based age estimation and photo-ID matching. With restrictions intended to cover ages 16 to 18, many young people, including young adults, will be affected. Organisations should track how the government reconciles any differences between OSA HEAA methods and the new rules. The impact will extend beyond social media: businesses exposed to online interactions with children and young adults, including e-commerce, gaming and age-gated content providers, should assess how evolving HEAA standards may affect compliance frameworks and user onboarding.

Next steps

Companies potentially affected should monitor developments, including Ofcom’s age assurance study. As the government is likely to build on OSA principles, organisations should consider adopting HEAA methods now where they have not already done so. This applies beyond social media to other user-to-user platforms, online gaming, e-commerce and businesses involving interactions with children or young adults. Early investment in robust age assurance may reduce compliance risk and support readiness as regulation develops.

Get in touch with us for further advice or horizon scanning.