Key facts
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to ban "harmful" social media for under-16s.
- Tech firms must implement safety measures to prevent children from sending or receiving nude images.
- Legislation with fines and potential criminal liability for executives will be introduced if companies do not comply within three months.
- Australia has a similar ban for under-16s with penalties up to A$49.5 million.
- Several European countries are also considering or have implemented age restrictions for social media use.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is poised to announce plans to ban "harmful" social media platforms for children under 16. This move aligns with a growing global trend of countries implementing stricter regulations on social media access for minors.
Under the proposed UK legislation, technology companies like Apple and Google would be mandated to develop or activate technical solutions on smartphones and tablets to detect and block nude images for children. While adults would still be able to share and view such content through an age verification process, the focus is on protecting minors. Non-compliant firms could face legislation, including potential criminal liability for executives, if they fail to implement these safety measures within three months.
Australia recently enacted one of the world's toughest regulations, banning social media for under-16s from December 10, 2025, with penalties reaching up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance. Several European nations are also moving to restrict children's social media access. Denmark plans to ban social media for children under 15, with parental consent allowed for those aged 13 and above. France has approved legislation to ban children under 15, pending Senate approval. Germany allows minors aged 13 to 16 to use social media with parental consent, though critics deem these controls insufficient. Greece is close to announcing a ban for under-15s, while Italy requires parental consent for social media accounts for those under 14. Malaysia has begun barring under-16s from registering, and Norway proposed raising the age of consent to 15. Poland is preparing legislation to ban social media for under-15s and enforce age verification, while Slovenia is drafting a similar law for under-15s. Spain plans to ban under-16s with mandatory age verification, and Sweden recommended a minimum age of 15. Turkey has passed legislation banning social media for under-15s.
In the United States, the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires social media companies to exercise reasonable care in designing features that protect minors, has gained support. This is separate from the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The European Union is also considering stronger protections, with a planned "Digital Fairness Act" targeting harmful design practices and a resolution calling for an EU-wide ban for under-16s without parental consent. Tech platforms generally require users to be at least 13, but child protection advocates argue these controls are insufficient.