The UK government has announced plans to introduce a ban on certain social media services for children under 16, with implementation targeted for Spring 2027. The proposals are intended to build on the Online Safety Act 2023 and would place the burden on social media platforms to prevent under-16s from accessing the platform.
The government proposes to restrict under-16s from using social media platforms where the core purpose of the platform is user-to-user interaction, posting content and algorithmic recommendation. The government has indicated that the approach will be modelled on Australia’s under-16 social media ban but with additional measures, making it more difficult for children to bypass these safeguards.
The proposals are expected to include major social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X and YouTube, however, private messaging services such as WhatsApp are not expected to be caught by the ban. The measures will also include restrictions on other online services, including livestreaming and gaming platforms. AI chatbot products that simulate intimate or romantic interactions are expected to face age restrictions, with certain functionality limited to users aged 18 and over. The government is also considering further measures for under-18s, including overnight curfews and limits or breaks on infinite scrolling.
The government has indicated that the first regulations will be laid before Parliament by the end of 2026, with implementation expected in Spring 2027. The government are set to provide more detail in July.
Millie Bradshaw, a solicitor at national law firm Clarke Willmott, said: “The changes will fall under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. By using secondary legislation to introduce the measures, this will allow the government to implement changes much quicker.
“The proposals will sit alongside the existing Online Safety Act 2023, under which regulated services already have duties to assess and mitigate risks to children, protect children from illegal and harmful content, and apply appropriate age assurance where children may access age-inappropriate services or content. Ofcom is expected to play a central role in developing and enforcing the new regime, including in relation to age assurance standards and platform compliance.
“More widely, the changes are a reminder of the responsibility to protect children online. All online service providers should be mindful of how children might engage or access their products and whether additional safeguards are needed.”
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