The UK government has announced plans to ban social media access for individuals under the age of 16, with the new regulations set to be introduced by spring 2027. The move aims to enhance online safety for children, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating that keeping children off social media is the most effective way to protect them online.

The ban will encompass a range of popular platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. While a definitive list of all affected platforms has not yet been published, the government has indicated that it will target services designed for social interaction and user-generated content. Features such as livestreaming and the ability for strangers to contact children will also face restrictions on these platforms.

Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are not expected to be included in the ban. Many social media platforms currently have age restrictions requiring users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. The government's new measures will build upon these existing policies, with potential restrictions on high-risk functions like livestreaming and direct messaging with unknown individuals being enabled by default for those under 17.

In addition to the outright ban for under-16s, the government is exploring further measures for those aged 16 and 17. These include potential overnight curfews for social media use and the implementation of breaks within "infinite scrolling" features. Detailed proposals for these additional restrictions are anticipated in July.

The government plans to enact the necessary regulations before the end of the year, paving the way for the ban to take effect in spring 2027. This announcement follows an extensive public consultation that garnered over 116,000 responses from the public.

Enforcement of the ban will rely on "highly effective age assurance measures." This will likely involve technology that can accurately verify a user's age, potentially through methods such as facial scans or identification checks, requiring social media companies to implement robust age verification systems.

Furthermore, the government is addressing the rise of AI chatbots. AI companions designed to simulate romantic or sexual relationships will be required to enforce a minimum age of 18. More broadly, AI chatbots will need to restrict intimate functionalities for users under 18, indicating a wider regulatory approach to AI's interaction with young people.

The regulator Ofcom has been tasked with conducting a swift study to identify the most effective age verification technologies. This collaboration with Ofcom underscores the government's commitment to a data-driven and technically sound implementation of its online safety agenda.