UK's 2027 Social Media Ban: Which Apps Are Off-Limits for Teens?

The UK government has revealed plans to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, with the new rules expected to take effect in early 2027. This move is part of a larger effort to protect young people online, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer explained that keeping children off social media is the best way to ensure their safety. The government is also considering additional measures for teenagers under 18, such as overnight curfews and restrictions on endless scrolling, which can keep users glued to their screens for hours.

The ban will cover major social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. YouTube will also be included in the ban for under-16s, but YouTube Kids, which is designed to be safer for children, will still be allowed. The government has not yet published a complete list of affected platforms, but it says the ban will apply to any service that allows social interaction and sharing of content. Features like livestreaming and the ability for strangers to contact children will be restricted on a wider range of online services, including gaming sites. For example, while Roblox will not be banned, its chat function will be limited for younger users. Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are not included in the ban.

Currently, most social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old, but the new rules will raise the minimum age to 16. For those under 18, the government plans to make risky features like livestreaming and chatting with strangers disabled by default for anyone under 17. They are also looking into setting overnight curfews and limiting infinite scrolling for under-18s, with more details expected in July. AI chatbots that simulate romantic relationships will be restricted to users over 18, and other AI chatbots will have to limit intimate features for minors.

The government aims to pass the necessary regulations before Christmas, so the ban can be introduced by spring 2027. To enforce the age restrictions, companies will be required to use advanced age verification technology, such as face scans or ID checks. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has been asked to study the best ways to verify users’ ages. Some platforms, like adult websites, already use these checks, and Ofcom has fined companies that fail to comply. However, there are concerns that children might use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the rules, and some digital rights groups worry about privacy issues related to sharing personal data.

The announcement has received mixed reactions from families and young people. Some parents who lost children due to online harm support the ban, believing it will help prevent similar tragedies. Others, including some teenagers, are worried about losing the ability to connect with friends and express themselves online. Social media companies like YouTube, Snapchat, and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, argue that the ban could push young people to less safe platforms and that age verification should be handled at the device level, not by each service.

Other countries are also taking action. Australia introduced a similar ban in December 2025, requiring popular platforms to prevent children from creating new accounts and deactivating existing ones for under-16s. However, enforcing the rules has been challenging, with many children still using social media despite the ban. More than 25 countries are considering or have already implemented age restrictions for social media, including Spain, Portugal, France, Malaysia, Denmark, Indonesia, Norway, and Canada. In the United States, some states have passed laws, but these are being challenged in court. The UK government hopes its new rules will set a strong example for keeping children safe online.