Share to ClassroomUK Will Ban Social Media for Under-16s
On Monday, the UK (United Kingdom) Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said Britain will stop children under 16 from using social media apps such as TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The rules start in early 2027. Companies that let children use their apps could pay fines of millions of pounds. Some apps, like WhatsApp, Signal and YouTube Kids, would be exempt.
Starmer once said no to this idea. But he changed his mind after a public study. About 116,000 people gave their views, and more than 90% wanted a ban. "Social media is making children unhappy," he said, pointing to mental health harm and bullying. Britain follows Australia, the first country to stop under-16s from having accounts. Tech companies pushed back. YouTube said the ban could push children to less-safe apps. Elon Musk, who owns X, called it censorship.
Many questions remain. How will the rules work? The government wants strong age checks, using face scans, photos or digital identity. But the regulator Ofcom says checking age 16 is hard. It will share a full plan in the autumn. Some teenagers may use a VPN (virtual private network) to hide where they are. Starmer said he will discuss the plan with US President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 (Group of Seven) summit in France.
