UK Bans Social Media Use for Children Under 16

London: The United Kingdom has announced a complete ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, becoming the fourth country in the world to introduce stricter regulations after Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision was taken with a focus on protecting children’s mental health and ensuring their online safety.

Under the new rules, restrictions will also apply to live streaming on platforms considered safe for minors. In addition, measures will be introduced to prevent strangers from contacting children through gaming applications, according to a BBC report.

The UK government is also actively considering introducing a social media curfew for teenagers. Further details regarding the policy are expected to be announced next month.

The move reflects growing international concern over the impact of digital platforms on young users and increasing efforts by governments to strengthen online child protection measures.