The UK has recently announced that, from Spring 2027, all those under 16 years old will be banned from accessing certain social media platforms.
This, pretty unsurprisingly, has been met with mixed reactions as many parents, guardians, teachers and even under-16s have praised the ban. On the other hand, some have criticised the ban as, to them, it simply makes “no sense”.
Whatever your stance on the social media ban is, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know, from what platforms will be included and how the ban will be enforced. We should disclaim that the ban isn’t expected until next year, so there’s still a lot of unanswered questions.
For more, visit our overview on the social media ban while our very own Dave Ludlow has given his two cents on the ban.
The UK government is planning to ban social media for those aged under 16. This means that although under-16s will still have general access to the internet, and can read the news, research topics and play games, they won’t be able to use platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X. At the time of writing, we don’t know whether that list is exhaustive, or if the government will eventually include more platforms to the ban list.
You’d be right in thinking this sounds familiar, as the government has stated that it’s using the “same model” as Australia’s social media ban which was implemented back in December 2025.
The purpose of the social media ban is partly in response to a national consultation which showed an “overwhelming public demand for action”. According to the consultation, the vast majority of parents and under-16s alike agreed that social media platforms shouldn’t be used by young people.
According to the government, the social media ban will be implemented in Spring 2027 after the first set of regulations are laid out by the end of the year. At the time of writing, there haven’t been any specific dates provided.
Judging from the fact sheet on gov.uk, it would be fair to say that the details haven’t been formalised yet. Instead, the government states that it plans on following Australia’s ban, whose model included “platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X”. We’d assume that YouTube Kids will still be available for under 16s, but the government hasn’t confirmed this just yet.
What about WhatsApp and other messaging apps?
The government has stated that it does not “intend” for messaging services to be included in the social media ban, which is likely to be a relief for parents who are concerned about keeping in touch with kids while they’re out and about. However, it has currently only mentioned Whatsapp and Signal, and fails to explain whether the likes of Telegram will be banned.
We also wonder whether Messenger will be banned too. Yes, you need a Facebook account to initially set-up the tool, but you can technically still use it even if you deactivate your account.
It seems that the main method of enforcing the social media ban will be via age verification, with stronger requirements needed for age checks on platforms. Ofcom is said to be setting out different options for effective forms of age verification that are “accurate, robust, reliable and fair”. However, the government hasn’t provided any further details on what those verifications will look like.
Adults won’t need to do checks, as many already have a social media account that’s been open for more than 16 years (what a way to make us feel old), has a credit card connected or is linked to an email address that’s already passed age verification in other ways. If those steps fail to prove an age, then apparently a simply face scan should verify a person’s age.
What does the ban mean for parents and children?
For children, the ban has been hailed by the government as “kickstarting a cultural shift”, and is promised to give kids their childhoods “back” as there will be less time for scrolling and “more time for play”.
However, those slightly older children who have grown up with social media platforms and will soon lose access may struggle to get used to the so-called “new normal”. There’s even, at the time of writing, a petition calling for the social media ban to be stopped which has over 208,000 signatures.
Essentially, people are clearly divided by the ban as although the harms of social media are widely acknowledged, many hail it a useful tool to stay in contact with friends and family.
Otherwise, the government has assured parents that, as of right now, they don’t have to do anything and they will be provided with further detail ahead of the changes in 2027. For now, it’s advisable that parents start taking steps with their children to discuss the upcoming ban and explain why the government is implementing it.
What about 16 and 17-year olds?
Being 16 or 17 years old has always been a difficult age to navigate, and it seems the social media ban will feel similar. While 16 and 17 year olds will be able to access social media, the government plans to ban live streaming and stranger communication for those ages.
