Overview
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the plan on Monday, June 15, 2026, saying the government will bar platforms from offering services to anyone under 16 and aims to pass the law by the end of December for implementation in spring 2027.
- The ban will target major social networks such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X and Reddit and will also cover AI romantic or sexual companion chatbots and some in‑game chat functions.
- Officials have said messaging apps, educational sites and e‑commerce services will be excluded and that further rules for 16‑ to 17‑year‑olds, including possible night curfews and 'pause' features for infinite scroll, will be announced in July.
- Tech companies including YouTube and other platforms warned a blanket ban could push young people to anonymous or less-moderated services, and experts point to Australia's experience showing age checks and VPN circumvention are hard to enforce.
- The move follows Australia’s December 2025 law and forms part of a broader international push to raise digital age limits, and it could reshape how families, schools and platforms manage adolescent online life.