The British government has decided to take a historic step. Following Australia’s lead in 2025, social media platforms will be banned for users under 16 in the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to have the law passed before Christmas, with a target of implementation in the spring of 2027.

In addition to banning major platforms like Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, the law will also target other well-known platforms. The specific list has yet to be published, but the government has stated that sites with live-streaming capabilities will also be affected, and Gaming sites are explicitly mentioned there.

Thus, YouTube and Twitch will also fall under the scope of this legislation. Other restrictions are under consideration, such as a sort of curfew to prevent users from scrolling endlessly on social media. This restriction would apply to those under 18.