British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to ban social media for under 16s.Image: keystone
The British government is planning a social media ban for children and young people under the age of 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this at a press conference in London.
June 15, 2026, 09:41June 15, 2026, 10:11
“Social media makes children unhappy,” said the prime minister. The decision was not easy; social media has also brought advantages to young people. A complete ban is still the right decision given the risks and negative consequences. “Today is a big day for our country,” said Starmer.
The United Kingdom is following Australia’s example. In December 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a general social media ban for under-16s. More and more European countries now want to follow suit.
Starmer also announced “world-leading” measures in gaming and live streaming platforms. Strange adults should no longer be able to use the chat function to contact children.
Ban can be circumvented
Critics of a ban fear, among other things, that it can easily be circumvented by teenagers. In Australia, many young people were able to continue using platforms despite the ban, for example by accessing VPN services or creating accounts with a fake birthday date.
There are currently discussions about restrictions on social media platforms for minors in many European countries. Several EU countries, including France, Spain, Greece, Norway and Austria, have already announced that they will legislate a social media ban for minors up to a certain age. This is also why the European Union is under pressure because only the EU Commission is allowed to impose regulations on the large platform operators. (hkl/sda/dpa)