UK — The United Kingdom announced in June 2026 that it plans to implement a ban preventing children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the ban, which is expected to be in force by spring 2027.

The UK government stated that the ban will establish a minimum age of 16 for accessing these platforms. The legislation under consideration includes an overnight curfew and measures to prevent infinite scrolling for individuals under 18. This ban would target platforms that enable social interaction and allow users to post material.

The UK government established an independent academic expert panel to study the effect of social media on teenagers. The government noted that the panel's findings thus far indicate known harms, particularly for high-risk individuals, and benefits associated with social media use.

Arturo Béjar, a former senior engineer and consultant at Meta, spoke about concerns regarding social media use. "I've spoken to parents from several countries, and I have yet to meet a parent of young kids who is not dreading when they're old enough to go online. Or a young person who has not experienced something awful and preventable," Béjar said. He also stated, "They [social media platforms] keep showing the world why we can't trust them."

Meta has addressed rulings in the U.S. that found the company liable for designing addictive products and misleading consumers about platform safety. Meta said it disagreed with these verdicts and plans to appeal them. Meta also stated that issues concerning teenagers' mental health cannot be attributed to a single cause and affirmed its commitment to creating safe and supportive online environments for young people.

Globally, Australia implemented age limits in 2024 for platforms including Meta's Instagram and Facebook, Google's YouTube, Elon Musk's X, TikTok, and Snapchat. In the U.S., tech companies have been lobbying against the Kids Online Safety Act. Meta stated its desire for uniform national standards for online youth safety. Donald Trump's White House has voiced criticism regarding tech regulation abroad, including the proposed social media age ban in the UK.

Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, addressed the likelihood of bans in the U.S. West said that widespread state bans on social media are not probable. He also stated that the possibility of a federal ban in the U.S. is low due to opposition from many legislators against government regulation of technology.