The United Kingdom will ban users under the age of 16 from social media platforms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced, as part of a broader regulatory push to protect minors online.
The new rules will extend beyond social media to cover gaming and live-streaming platforms, Starmer said. The announcement marks a significant escalation in the UK government’s approach to tech regulation, which has grown steadily more assertive in recent years.
Authorities have pushed technology companies to implement age-verification systems and tighten algorithmic controls, and Monday’s announcement appears to formalise that direction into law.
The UK joins a small but growing group of governments legislating minimum age limits for social media access. Australia passed a similar under-16 ban late last year.
