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UK Bans Social Media for Kids

technologyJune 18, 2026·147 words·2 min read

This is a A2 (elementary) English article about uk bans social media for kids. Read the article below, then check the key words and test your understanding with 5 exercises. You can also listen to the audio and tap any word to see its meaning.

How to practice
Key Vocabulary

Tap any underlined difficult word to see its definition in your language and hear it pronounced.

Exercises

Multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and ordering tasks check that you understood what you read.

Dictation Practice

Listen to each sentence, then type what you hear word by word. Trains your ear and spelling.

Memorize Practice

Read a sentence, then reconstruct it from memory by filling in the blanks. Active recall locks vocabulary in.

Read & Listen

0:00 / 1:11
UK Bans Social Media for Kids
The UK (United Kingdom) has a new plan. The leader, Keir Starmer, spoke on Monday. The UK will ban social media for children under 16. It will stop apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X. The rules start in early 2027. Companies that break the rules must pay big fines. But some apps, like WhatsApp and YouTube Kids, can stay.
Starmer once said no to this idea. Then he changed his mind. The UK asked people what they think. About 116,000 people answered. More than 90% wanted the ban. Starmer says social media makes children sad. Australia did this first too. But big tech companies do not like the plan.
How will the UK check ages? It may use face photos or other checks. But this is hard to do. Some teenagers may hide their real age online. The UK will share more plans later this year.

Key Vocabulary

v.
to say people cannot do it
n.
money you pay for breaking a rule
n.
people aged 13 to 19
n.
apps for sharing with people online
n.
computers and the internet
v.
to look at to make sure
Vocabulary Translations· 6 words · 12 languages

Every definition is context-aware — translated based on how the word is used in this article, not a dictionary.

banv.

to say people cannot do it

cấmproibir禁止するyasaklamak禁止prohibirzakazaćيحظرverbiedenзапрещать금지하다
finen.

money you pay for breaking a rule

tiền phạtmultas罰金para cezaları罚款multasgrzywnyغراماتboetesштрафы벌금good; okay
teenagern.

people aged 13 to 19

thanh thiếu niênadolescentes10代の若者gençler青少年adolescentesnastolatkiمراهقونtienersподростки십대
social median.

apps for sharing with people online

mạng xã hộiredes sociaisソーシャルメディアsosyal medya社交媒体redes socialesmedia społecznościoweوسائل التواصل الاجتماعيsociale mediaсоциальные сети소셜 미디어
techn.

computers and the internet

công nghệtecnologiaテクノロジー(技術)teknoloji科技tecnologíatechnologiaالتقنيةtechniekтехнологии기술
checkv.

to look at to make sure

kiểm traverificar確認するkontrol etmek核查verificarsprawdzaćيتحققcontrolerenпроверять확인하다

Check Your Understanding

Question 1: True or False

1

All apps will be banned for children under 16.

2

Companies that break the rules must pay big fines.

3

Big tech companies like the new plan.

4

Australia banned social media for children before the UK.

Question 2: Multiple Choice

What must companies do if they break the rules?

Question 3: Multiple Choice

How many people answered the UK's question?

Question 4: Matching

Tap a word, then tap its meaning.

Question 5: Fill in the Blank

The UK may ______ ages by using face photos.

Dictation Practice

Sentence 1 / 200/8 words

Memorize Practice

Sentence 1 / 20

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