The U.K. is moving ahead with a social media ban for teenagers under 16, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday.
If passed in parliament, the ban will go into effect by spring 2027. The platforms to be banned for under-16s include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. WhatsApp and Signal will not be part of the ban.
In making the announcement, Starmer said that the ban was due to the negative impact social media can have on children, including bullying and that it is “designed to be addictive,” according to the BBC. “That is all any parent wants. They want to know that Britain will be better for their children, that they will get a fair chance,” Starmer added.
The ban follows similar legislation introduced in Australia and France earlier this year.
More to come…