British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to deliver a speech on June 8, 2026, in which he is expected to announce a ban on harmful social media use for children under the age of 16, while allowing access to some safer platforms [1, 2]. The UK government has been consulting extensively on children's social media use, considering limits such as curfews, time restrictions, and bans on addictive design features earlier this year [1, 2, 3].
The decision follows consultations with bereaved parents and reviews of international examples, notably Australia's introduction of a social media ban for under-16s in December 2025 [1, 2]. Similar steps have been taken by Greece, which announced in April 2026 that people under 15 will be banned from social media starting January 2027 [1, 2, 3]. Other European countries, including France, Denmark, and Poland, are also considering tightening social media laws to protect children [1, 2, 3].
The UK's existing Online Safety Law already requires social media companies to protect children from illegal and harmful content. However, this move would represent a further step by formally prohibiting children under 16 from accessing harmful platforms [1, 2]. A Downing Street source said, "The Prime Minister is not afraid about taking on the tech companies and their bosses to protect young people" [1, 2].
A formal announcement of the ban could be preceded by government efforts aimed at stopping children from producing sexualised images online to reduce risks such as sextortion [1, 2]. Opinions among experts are divided on whether a total ban for under-16s will be effective in practice [1, 2]. Some young people in London have expressed opposition to curtailing social media use at a young age [1, 2].
The government’s announcement today follows a wider trend across Europe and the world that aims to restrict children’s exposure to potentially harmful digital content. The exact rules and how they will be enforced are expected to be detailed in the coming weeks.
