UK, unprecedented measure: social media banned for children under 16

The British government has announced a package of measures that would transform the United Kingdom into one of the countries with the strictest rules on minors' access to the internet. According to the plan presented by the executive led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, children under 16 will no longer have access to the main social networks, AFP reports. The ban would target platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X, but messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Signal will be exempt. The first regulations could come into force in the spring of 2027.

• Teenagers aged 16 and 17 will have limited access

For young people aged 16 and 17, access to social networks will remain permitted, but with a series of restrictions activated automatically. These include limiting live broadcasts and blocking communication with unknown people. The British authorities are also considering introducing restrictions on the use of platforms at night and limiting the infinite scroll functions, which are considered mechanisms that promote digital addiction. "We are going further than any other country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and by taking additional measures to give children back their childhood,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

• The decision comes amid concerns about mental health

The British executive justifies the measures by the need to protect the mental health of children and adolescents and to limit the negative effects of digital platforms, which officials say are designed to create addiction. The announcement comes after several highly publicized cases in the UK, which involved self-harm and exposure of young people to dangerous content, and against the backdrop of studies indicating the harmful effects of excessive use of social networks.

• Enforcing the ban is a major challenge

However, experts warn that implementing such restrictions will not be easy. The use of virtual private networks (VPNs) allows you to bypass age filters and geographical restrictions. A similar phenomenon was observed in Australia, where downloads of VPN applications increased significantly before the introduction of similar regulations.

• Technology giants dispute the plan

Big technology companies have reacted critically to the British government's proposals. YouTube representatives have warned that a general ban could push minors to less safe and less controlled platforms. Meta, for its part, claims that teenagers risk losing access to important communities and sources of information, migrating to unregulated services. Digital law experts warn that extending restrictions to streaming services, applications based on artificial intelligence or other online platforms will further complicate enforcement, especially in the case of companies operating outside the UK.

• A politically sensitive issue

The initiative comes at a delicate time for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is under pressure after the Labour Party's poor performance in local elections in May. If the bill is adopted in its current form, Britain could become the first major Western country to ban children under 16 from major social media platforms, opening a new chapter in the global debate on the relationship between technology and young people's mental health.