UK Announces Under-16 Social Media Ban, Curbs on AI Chatbots

The UK government says algorithmic recommendations, livestreaming and direct messages from strangers are increasing children's exposure to harmful content and the risk of addiction. It is therefore adopting an “Australia Plus” model that goes further than Australia's approach. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology received more than 116,000 submissions during a consultation from March to May, with 90% of parents supporting the ban. Opponents, however, worry that teenagers will migrate to unregulated platforms.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15, 2026, that people under 16 are expected to be barred from major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube beginning in spring 2027. AI romantic or sexual companion chatbots will be restricted to users aged 18 and older. The government further announced on July 15 that accounts belonging to 16- and 17-year-olds will default to disabling notifications from midnight to 6 a.m., turning off autoplay and removing personalized feeds, although users may change those settings themselves.