The UK Social Media Ban for Under-16s: What Parents Need to Know
- Aug 12
- 9 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Quick answer: The UK social media ban for under-16s is expected to start in spring 2027, but the government has not yet announced an exact commencement date. The first regulations are due to be presented to Parliament before the end of 2026 and must be approved before the new restrictions take effect.
Last reviewed: 12 August 2026
Next scheduled review: October 2026, or sooner if the government or Ofcom publishes new information
The key facts for parents about the Under 16 UK Social Media Ban
The UK government expects the under-16 social media ban to begin in spring 2027.
An exact starting date has not yet been announced.
The first regulations are expected to be laid before Parliament by the end of 2026.
The government has named services such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook and X as examples of platforms expected to be covered.
WhatsApp and Signal are not currently intended to be included in the social media ban.
Parents and children do not need to take any formal action yet.
More information about affected platforms, age checks and implementation is expected before the restrictions begin.
When does the UK social media ban start?
The UK government says the first social media restrictions for children under 16 should be implemented in spring 2027.
However, there is currently no confirmed day or month on which every restriction will begin. Spring 2027 is the government’s implementation target, rather than a final commencement date.
The government’s current fact sheet says the first regulations will be laid before the end of 2026 and that the changes should be implemented in spring 2027.
Before telling children that access will end on a particular date, parents should therefore wait for the government’s final implementation announcement.
UK social media ban timeline
Date | Development | What it means |
19 January 2026 | The government announced a national consultation on children’s use of social media and mobile phones. | Ministers began formally considering age restrictions and other measures. |
March–May 2026 | The national consultation gathered evidence and views from parents, children and experts. | The responses informed the government’s decision to pursue an under-16 ban. |
26 May 2026 | The national consultation closed. | The government began finalising its policy response. |
15 June 2026 | The government announced plans to prevent social media companies from offering covered services to under-16s. | The policy moved from consultation to a stated government commitment. |
15 July 2026 | The government announced additional protections for 16- and 17-year-olds. | These included default overnight curfews and restrictions on addictive features. |
27 July 2026 | Ofcom updated its report on the use of age assurance. | Ofcom confirmed that effective age checks would be central to enforcing the restrictions. |
By the end of October 2026 | Ofcom is due to give Parliament its rapid assessment of highly effective age checks for determining whether someone is over 16. | This should provide more detail about how services could verify users’ ages. |
By the end of 2026 | The government intends to lay the first regulations before Parliament. | The regulations will define important legal and implementation details. |
January 2027 | Ofcom is expected to publish its statutory report on protections involving app stores. | App stores and device-level protections may form part of the wider enforcement system. |
Spring 2027 | The first social media restrictions are expected to come into force. | Under-16s should no longer be able to use social media services covered by the regulations. |
This timetable may change. Families should check current government and Ofcom guidance before relying on an implementation date.
Has the UK social media ban already become law?
The government has committed to introducing the restrictions and has obtained powers that allow it to make the necessary regulations. However, the detailed regulations still need to be laid before Parliament and approved.
The government’s June 2026 progress statement says the regulations will be subject to an affirmative parliamentary procedure. That means both Houses of Parliament must approve them before the Secretary of State can make them.
This distinction matters because several details may still change, including:
The precise commencement date.
The complete list or definition of affected services.
The exemptions available to educational or other services.
The age-assurance standards platforms must meet.
The implementation timetable for different requirements.
It is accurate to say that the UK government is introducing an under-16 social media ban expected in spring 2027. It is not yet accurate to claim that every operational detail has been finalised.
Who will the UK social media ban affect?
The principal restriction will affect children and young people under 16 using social media services covered by the new rules.
The government’s children and young people’s summary says under-16s will not be able to continue using covered services once the rules begin, even when they have permission from a parent or carer.
The obligation will be placed on social media companies. Platforms will be expected to take effective steps to prevent children under 16 from accessing affected services.
Children should still be able to use appropriate online services for purposes such as:
Learning and education.
News and information.
Games.
Creativity.
Staying in touch with known friends and family.
Using messaging services that are not covered by the social media restrictions.
The exact boundary between a social media service and an exempt or differently regulated service will become clearer when the regulations are published.
Which social media apps are expected to be affected?
The government has named the following as examples of services expected to be covered:
TikTok
Instagram
Snapchat
YouTube
Facebook
X
The UK plans to draw on the Australian model. Australia’s restricted-service list also includes platforms such as Threads, Twitch, Reddit, Kick and Bluesky.
However, parents should not treat the Australian list as the final UK list. The government is still developing the detailed UK definitions and exemptions.
Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not currently intended to be included in the social media ban. Educational services, e-commerce platforms and music-streaming services are also expected to receive narrowly defined exemptions where appropriate.
Read Liaura’s complete guide to which apps are expected to be included in the UK social media ban for a platform-by-platform explanation.
What will happen to existing accounts held by children?
The government says under-16s will no longer be able to use covered social media services once the restrictions begin. This suggests platforms will need to address existing accounts as well as prevent new under-16 accounts from being created. The precise process has not yet been confirmed.
Platforms may need to:
Identify accounts belonging to users under 16.
Ask some users to complete an age check.
Restrict, suspend or remove accounts that cannot meet the age requirement.
Provide appropriate information or account-management options before access ends.
Parents should avoid deleting a child’s account immediately purely in anticipation of the ban. Families may first want to preserve appropriate photos, messages, contact details or creative work in accordance with each platform’s export and privacy tools.
Further instructions should be provided before implementation.
How will platforms check users’ ages?
The government intends to support the restrictions with stronger age-assurance requirements.
Ofcom is due to provide Parliament with an assessment of how highly effective age checks could establish whether someone is over 16. Its 2026 age-assurance report says no single method removes every risk of circumvention and that several layers of protection may be needed.
Potential age-assurance methods can include:
Photo-ID matching.
Facial age estimation.
Payment or banking information.
Mobile-network information.
Digital identity or age credentials.
Existing verified account information.
Checks conducted through app stores, operating systems or devices.
That does not mean every adult will necessarily be asked to upload identification to every social network. The government says some adults may already have account information that provides sufficient evidence of age.
The final requirements will depend on the regulations and subsequent Ofcom guidance.
What will change for 16- and 17-year-olds?
Young people aged 16 and 17 will still be able to access social media, but additional protections are planned.
The government announced that the following settings will be applied by default:
An overnight social media curfew from midnight until 6am.
Notifications switched off during the overnight period.
Autoplay switched off.
Personalised feeds switched off.
Unlike the under-16 restriction, 16- and 17-year-olds are expected to be able to change these default settings themselves.
The government has described this as a way to avoid a sudden “cliff edge” in protection when a child turns 16. Further rules will also restrict features such as livestreaming and communication with unknown adults across a wider range of online services.
What should parents do before spring 2027?
The government says parents and children do not need to complete any formal action yet. However, families can use the preparation period constructively.
1. Talk about the change early
Explain that the rules will apply nationally and will place responsibilities on platforms. Avoid framing the change solely as a punishment or as a sign that your child has done something wrong. Read more here.
2. Identify how your child currently uses social media
Consider whether they mainly use it for:
Messaging friends.
Watching videos.
Sharing creative work.
Following hobbies.
Finding community.
Learning.
Keeping in touch with relatives.
Understanding the underlying need makes it easier to choose an appropriate replacement.
3. Record important contact details
Help your child preserve appropriate contact information for real friends and family members. Do this safely and with the knowledge of the other children’s parents or carers where appropriate.
4. Review account-export options
Some platforms allow users to download their data, photos or videos. Check the platform’s official settings rather than using unverified third-party download services.
5. Explore safer ways to stay connected
Look for services designed around the child’s age and needs. Assess whether they offer:
Guardian-approved contacts.
No open stranger discovery.
Appropriate moderation.
Clear privacy controls.
No public follower counts.
No infinite scrolling.
Age-appropriate activities.
A transparent safeguarding process.
6. Build digital skills as well as boundaries
Restrictions do not remove the need for children to learn about privacy, kindness, misinformation, reporting and healthy technology use.
Children will eventually encounter wider online environments. Support and guided experience can help them develop the judgement they will need. Help with iPhone and Android device setup, as well as guides on key challenges can be found on our Online Safety Centre.
7. Follow official updates
Use GOV.UK and Ofcom as the principal sources for implementation details. Be cautious about social posts claiming to reveal final dates, exemptions or age-check methods before the regulations are published.
Will children still be able to connect online?
Yes. The government has said children should still be able to use the internet for positive purposes, including learning, games and staying in touch with known friends and family.
The central challenge for families will be finding digital environments that meet children’s genuine needs without recreating the open networks and engagement mechanisms the new policy is intended to address.
A safer children’s service should not simply be an adult social network with a few settings changed. Parents should look at how the product is designed from the beginning:
Who can contact a child?
Can strangers discover the account?
Does the service use likes, followers or popularity measures?
Is content selected by an engagement-driven algorithm?
What can guardians see and manage?
How does the provider detect and respond to harmful behaviour?
What data does the service collect?
Does the experience support a clear developmental or social purpose?
Liaura is designed especially for primary-age children, with guardian-managed profiles and approved contacts. Children can connect, play and learn without an open social network, public follower counts or infinite scrolling.
Frequently asked questions
What date will the UK social media ban begin?
No exact date has been announced. The government currently expects the first restrictions to come into force in spring 2027.
Is the UK social media ban definitely happening?
The government has formally committed to introducing it and intends to lay the first regulations before Parliament by the end of 2026. Those regulations must receive parliamentary approval before taking effect.
Will the ban start on 1 January 2027?
There is no official announcement that the ban will start on 1 January 2027. Current government guidance says spring 2027.
Will children lose their existing accounts?
The government says under-16s will not be able to continue using covered services when the rules begin. Platforms are therefore expected to address existing under-16 accounts, but the exact process has not yet been published.
Can parents give permission for a child to use social media?
Current government guidance says children under 16 will not be able to use covered social media services even when they have permission from a parent or carer.
Will WhatsApp be banned for under-16s?
The government does not currently intend to include messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal in the social media ban. Other online-safety requirements may still apply to messaging and communication features.
Will YouTube be included?
The government has named YouTube as an example of a platform expected to be included. The treatment of particular educational content, child-specific services and exemptions will depend on the final regulations.
Do parents need to do anything now?
No formal action is currently required. Parents can start discussing the change, understanding what needs social media currently meets for their child and exploring appropriate alternatives.
What happens next?
The next major expected milestone is Ofcom’s assessment of age assurance, due to be delivered to Parliament by the end of October 2026.
The first regulations are then expected before Parliament by the end of 2026. Those regulations should provide greater clarity about:
Covered services.
Exemptions.
Age-assurance requirements.
Platform responsibilities.
Enforcement.
The final implementation timetable.
This page will be updated when authoritative new information becomes available.
Sources and further reading
Explore next: Learn what to look for when comparing safer social media alternatives for children, or discover how Liaura gives primary-age children a calmer place to connect with approved friends and family, play and learn.
