The NewYorkTimes.com reported that “Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said that the government would introduce new regulations later this year to ban social media for children under 16.” The June 15, 2026 article entitled “Britain Announces Social Media Ban for Children” (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/world/europe/uk-social-media-children.html) included these comments from Reporter Megan Specia:
The British government plans to ban access to social media for all children under 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, after weeks in which the nation debated how it would introduce new protections for children online.
Mr. Starmer said the government would introduce the new regulations in Parliament before Christmas and bring a ban into force in early 2027. The measures will also include restrictions on game platforms and livestreaming apps, with more details expected to be announced next month.
“I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen,” Mr. Starmer said at a news conference.
The government has faced growing pressure to act on the issue as public opinion has coalesced around the idea that more should be done to keep children safe online. One YouGov poll in December found that 74 percent of Britons surveyed supported a ban on social media for children under 16.
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First published at https://www.vogelitlaw.com/blog/uk-plans-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16