UK Bans Social Media for Under-16s, Effective Spring 2027

The UK government announced on 14 June 2026 that children under 16 will be barred from Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram from Spring 2027 onward. Legislation will pass by Christmas 2026. Platforms face penalties for non-compliance. The ban also prohibits livestreaming access and unsolicited stranger contact for minors by design. Australia enacted a similar ban in November 2024; other European regulators are watching closely.