UK to ban social media for under-16s to 'give kids their childhood back'

The U.K. will ban social media from offering services to under-16s, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday, as governments around the world face mounting pressure to ensure child safety online.

The ban could include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The first set of regulations could take effect as soon as spring 2027.

The U.K. plans to model its approach on landmark Australian legislation passed late last year, but the country will go further by introducing additional restrictions on features deemed particularly harmful to children.

These include blocking livestreaming and communication with strangers for users under 16, while similar protections will be enabled by default for 16- and 17-year-olds. The government is also considering overnight curfews and measures to limit infinite scrolling for minors.

"We're going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back," Starmer said in a statement.

Social media is making children unhappy and is designed to be addictive, Starmer said at a press conference, adding that he didn't take the decision lightly.

CNBC has reached out to Alphabet and Meta for comment.

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