{"id":783,"date":"2026-06-16T20:50:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T20:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=783"},"modified":"2026-06-16T21:54:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T21:54:45","slug":"online-safety-uk-moves-to-block-social-media-for-under-16s-cites-parental-concerns-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=783","title":{"rendered":"Online Safety: UK moves to block social media for under-16s, cites parental concerns, others"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>*<strong><em>The British Government moves to block social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, to give kids their childhood back, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect<\/p>\n<p>In a decisive move the authorities have described as a measure to give British &#8220;kids their childhood back&#8221; while setting a &#8220;new normal for future generations&#8221;, the United Kingdom (UK) Government has gone further to protect kids with world-leading additional restrictions on harmful features online.<\/p>\n<p>ConsumerConnect reports the British Government discloses such harmful youth-targeted content in cyberspace include live streaming and strangers communicating with children in the social media space.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"OcWYFTogEd\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=810\">Price Hikes: How increased LPG imports will sustain supply, enhance energy market stability in Nigeria &#8211;Minister<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cPrice Hikes: How increased LPG imports will sustain supply, enhance energy market stability in Nigeria \u2013Minister\u201d \u2014 ConsumerConnect \" src=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=810&amp;embed=true#?secret=41fb0NvZpb#?secret=OcWYFTogEd\" data-secret=\"OcWYFTogEd\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The UK Government&#8217;s proposed ban will include platforms, such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the social media ban,&#8221; the government stated.<\/p>\n<p>Monday&#8217;s announcement followed one of the biggest national conversations held by the UK Government.<\/p>\n<p>It revealed the move has garnered over 116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>It is recalled the Canadian Government recently also planned to block social media platforms from children under 16 in order to restore what the government described as serious health issues resulting from kids\u2019 unregulated exposure to harmful, and sexually explicit content in cyberspace.<\/p>\n<p>The Rt. Hon. Liz Kendall M, of the British Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and The Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, British Prime Minister (PM), who confirmed this development in a statement Monday, June 15, 2026, said the country would intensify efforts at protecting kids with world-leading additional restrictions on harmful features online.<\/p>\n<p>It is noted the government action has shown clear choice to side with families over global technology companies to put power back in parents\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n<p>The statement noted the move would also give kids the childhood they deserve.<\/p>\n<p>Rt. Hon. Sir Starmer KCB KC MP particularly, targets the global tech giants over child safety in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The government revealed a recent investigation indicated that about nine in 10 parents or guardians backed the proactive action against the social media.<\/p>\n<p>UK authorities said the findings were expected to be brought to the Parliament before Christmas this year, and with protections expected to come into force in\u202fSpring\u202f2027.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Children to get back their childhoods<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The UK Government disclosed the children wound be given back their childhoods, thanks to government action to ban social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, with less time for scrolling and more time for play.<\/p>\n<p>The British authorities equally hinted that the plans to block social media platforms from under-16s would set a new normal for future generations, kickstart a cultural shift, and drive forward the government\u2019s fight to give every child the best start in life.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, the government plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia.<\/p>\n<p>The statement noted this would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction, and\u202fwhich allow users to post material, alongside algorithms.<\/p>\n<p>On Child Online Protection<\/p>\n<p>Similar to what obtains in certain economies around the world in line with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) provision on Child Online Protection (COP), the UK Government as well explained the current effort is aimed at protecting children online, and address the scale of the challenge.<\/p>\n<p>The statement indicated the government would also go beyond a blanket ban on social media with world-leading blocks on\u202fharmful functions, such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s.<\/p>\n<p>It said: &#8220;These restrictions \u2013 which together with the ban go further than any other country \u2013 will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent a cliff-edge at 16.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is noted the government also will be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds and will set out more detail July 2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong>British Prime Minister speaks on core objectives of regulation <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In his remarks on the proposed legislation to ban social media access to under-16s, Rt. Hon. Starmer said: &#8220;Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve heard first hand from families crying out for change, and we will do right by them.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Explaining further his administration&#8217;s determination to intervene in supporting parents to ensure children online protection and give them back their childhood, he that\u2019s why the UK Government would go further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s.<\/p>\n<p>It will also introduce wider protections to give kids their childhood back, stated the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n<p>Starmer stated: &#8220;This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we\u2019re stepping in to protect children, back parents, and set a new normal for future generations.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>On the so-called AI \u2018romantic companion\u2019 chatbots \u2013 designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users \u2013 the government said it would&nbsp; have to enforce a minimum age of 18 in the proposed legislation.<\/p>\n<p>The UK Government said similar intimate functionalities would be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Taken together, these measures will\u202fmean a much more comprehensive model than just a blanket ban on social media \u2014 one that responds to how children experience harm online, rather than just where it happens.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The changes will back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world, and help empower them by providing a clear decision on what is safe and age-appropriate for children,&#8221; the statement noted.<\/p>\n<p>The UK averred that the current effort on online safety is its decisive first step that marks a clear choice to put children\u2019s wellbeing first and give them a healthy life online.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We stand ready to take further measures in the future,&#8221; declared the British Prime Minister.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: &#8220;Today (Monday), we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Kendall stated: &#8220;That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That is what these regulations will deliver.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is noted the British Government also, would learn the lessons from Australia\u2019s experience by introducing more Highly Effective Age Assurance (HEAA) measures to support compliance, making it far harder for children to bypass safeguards.<\/p>\n<p>Ofcom will conduct a rapid study on what is effective age assurance for verifying whether someone is over 16, noted the statement.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the UK Secretary of State has written to the new Chair of Ofcom to ask for an urgent review of Ofcom\u2019s enforcement capabilities with a clear enforcement strategy to be published as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary of State, in her letter, confirmed the government would ensure Ofcom has the funding it needs to carry out its new responsibilities \u2013 as well as continue its vital work to enforce the existing provisions of the Online Safety Act, it said.<\/p>\n<p>These provisions include protecting women and girls online, tackling harmful content that puts vulnerable people at risk, and taking action against serious illegal activity,&nbsp; such as child sexual abuse material and online fraud and scams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Against the backdrop of 116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the country, the UK said the responses indicated overwhelming public backing for tougher action.<\/p>\n<p>According to the government, nine in 10 parents said they would support a social media ban for children under 16.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, the statement the majority of young people as well backed action, with two-thirds agreeing\u202fthat children younger than 16 should not be allowed to use at least some social media platforms in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>On social media services, real-time content makes harmful material harder to moderate, and algorithmic feeds can intensify exposure to dangerous, distressing or overly engaging material, the government said.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the UK Government said parents rightly expect government to take action as quickly as possible, which is why the government has already taken powers through the Children\u2019s Wellbeing and Schools Act to act fast.<\/p>\n<p>It used secondary legislation to introduce targeted protections without needing to wait to bring in a whole new Act. This means the first set of\u202fregulations could be in effect in\u202fSpring 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*The British Government moves to block social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, to give kids their childhood back, marking a line in the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_customify_content_layout":"","_customify_sidebar":"","_customify_page_header_display":"default","_customify_disable_header":"","_customify_disable_header_top":"","_customify_disable_header_main":"","_customify_disable_header_bottom":"","_customify_disable_page_title":"","_customify_disable_content_vertical_padding":"","_customify_disable_footer_top":"","_customify_disable_footer_main":"","_customify_disable_footer_bottom":"","_customify_breadcrumb_display":"","_customify_header_transparent_display":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cybermalls","category-highlights"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc.png",672,365,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc-300x163.png",300,163,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc.png",672,365,false],"large":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc.png",672,365,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc.png",672,365,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Social-Media-Ban-for-Children2-in-Canada-cc.png",672,365,false]},"author_info":{"info":["ConsumerConnect"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=11\" rel=\"category\">Cybermalls<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=20\" rel=\"category\">Highlights<\/a>","tag_info":"Highlights","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=783"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":830,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions\/830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}