Landmark legislation aims to protect children from harmful content as ministers prepare to outline enforcement plans in Parliament

June 15, 2026 — Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday that the British government will introduce legislation banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, marking one of the most sweeping attempts by any Western democracy to restrict minors’ use of major technology services. The policy is expected to apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is scheduled to deliver a statement to the House of Commons later today outlining the government’s plans, including how age verification will be enforced and what penalties platforms may face for noncompliance. The move follows growing public concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, exposure to harmful content, and online safety.

Technology companies have warned that blanket bans are difficult to enforce and could drive children to less regulated platforms or encourage the use of virtual private networks. Civil liberties groups have also raised questions about privacy and the practical challenges of verifying users’ ages at scale.

Proponents argue that the risks to young people have become too severe to ignore and that the current system of self-regulation by platforms has failed. The legislation is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks, with the government aiming for the restrictions to take effect before the end of the year.