How the UK social media ban will affect you
BBC News Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy has been answering some of the big questions around today's announcement.
- Published
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that under-16s will be banned from major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
There will also be changes affecting chat functions on video games.
The new rules are expected to come into place in early 2027.
BBC News Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy has been answering some of the big questions around today's announcement.
UK social media ban announced for under-16s
- Published1 hour ago
What are the big proposed changes?
There are three big changes coming in next year. Under-16s will be banned from all the major social media apps including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook and X.
Chat apps like WhatsApp will not be banned. Under-16s will also no longer be able to live stream at all.
There will be a curfew on 16 and 17 year olds scrolling at night.
This means that at a certain time in the evening, platforms will have to block under-18s from using the platforms until the morning.
Although it will be illegal for kids to do these things - you won't get arrested if you do - it's up to the big tech companies that run social media platforms to make sure kids are kept off the apps and they will get in trouble if not.
What changes might young people actually notice on social media and in gaming?
If you are under-16 and using social media apps, you will probably be kicked off your account when the the new rules come in.
So I imagine at the point when it starts, you will likely get a pop up alert on the apps asking you to prove you are over 16.
The apps will probably use facial scanning tech to guess your age.
If you are over 16 when the change comes in but you look younger, then you will likely have to prove you are over 16 in another way such as scanning your passport.
When might changes start happening?
The Prime Minister said 'in the spring' so that could mean any time in March/April or May.
My guess would be late March or early April as the government is very keen to get the new rules in place.
What DON'T we know yet?
We don't know the full list of banned platforms.
We also don't know how it will actually work - what technology will the government ask the social media companies to use, and how strict will the rules be enforced.
We also don't know how well it will work too.
In Australia a ban for under-16s on social media came into effect in December and it has only partly worked, as some children have found ways to stay on the platforms even though it is illegal.
