UK ministers will present a draft ban on under‑16s using major social media platforms on Monday, June 10, 2026.
The proposal, discussed inside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, would prohibit children younger than 16 from accessing services such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Lawmakers will debate the measure in Parliament before the Makerfield by‑election on June 18. No firm implementation date has been set, but the draft calls for enforcement within months of passage.
If enacted, the rule would reshape how families manage screen time and could force platforms to add age‑verification systems. Child‑safety charities have warned the approach may push kids to unregulated alternatives, complicating the very safety goals it seeks to achieve.
The move follows years of fringe proposals, turning a once‑marginal idea into real legislation – a development that could ripple across Europe’s digital policy landscape.