U.K. Sets Social Media Ban for Under-16s, Effective 2027

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the measure on June 15, describing social media as “addictive by design” and stating that it contributes to children’s unhappiness. The bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament before Christmas.

Australia enacted a national social media ban for minors in late 2025. France, Spain, and more than a dozen other countries have introduced similar restrictions. In the United States, 19 states have passed laws limiting minors’ access to social media, and eight of those states have enacted outright bans or parental-consent requirements.

A TikTok spokesperson told Fortune the company shares the government’s goal of safe online experiences and noted that teen accounts include more than 50 preset safety and privacy settings. A Meta spokesperson said the company developed Teen Accounts to limit contacts and content for users under 18 and expressed concern that bans could drive minors to unregulated platforms.

CEO of Zigazoo, said governments are now seeking the type of age-verified environment his platform has offered since 2020. Zigazoo requires age verification, bars adult contact with minors, and uses an algorithm designed to surface age-appropriate content.

Ringelstein told Fortune that “the under-16 social media bans are spreading” and that the United States is the next likely jurisdiction to adopt such rules.