How will social media ban work and when does it start?

When will social media ban start, and which apps will be affected? 5 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Liv McMahon , Technology reporter and Duncan Walker Getty Images A social media ban for under-16s has been announced by the UK government. It will be introduced in early 2027. The government is also considering an overnight curfew and measures to stop infinite scrolling for under-18s. Keeping children off social media is the best way to keep them safe online, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said. Which social media platforms will be banned for under-16s? The ban will cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, the government said. A complete list of which platforms the ban will apply to has not been released. However, the government said it would cover those "whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material". Features including livestreaming and strangers being able to contact children will also be restricted. The government said it did not intend to include messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal in the social media ban. It has also said that YouTube Kids - a version of the video-sharing app designed to be safe for children, with parental controls - will not be included. Most social media platforms already require children to be over 13 to create an account and use their services. Live: Under-16s to be banned from social media Social media ban - bold and blunt, but no silver bullet What measures are planned for under-18s? The government said that for the "high risk" functions of livestreaming and chat with strangers, restrictions would be on by default for under-17s "to prevent a cliff-edge at 16". It said it was also looking into overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s, with more detail on this to be set out in July. AI "romantic companion" chatbots, which are designed to simulate sexual relationships or role play with users, will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. AI chatbots more widely will have to restrict "intimate functionalities" for under-18s, the government said. When will the social media ban be introduced? The prime minister said the government plans to pass regulations before Christmas. This would allow the ban to be introduced by spring 2027. The announcement follows a public consultation which received more than 116,000 responses. How will it be enforced? The government said "highly effective age assurance" measures would be used to check the age of those using social media. This typically involves requiring companies to use tech that accurately estimates or verifies someone's age - such as face scans or asking for ID. The regulator Ofcom has been asked to carry out a rapid study to identify the best ways to verify if someone is over 16. A number of platforms, including porn sites, are already required to carry out these checks. Ofcom has fined several platforms for not complying. But concerns have been raised abou