Governments Around the World Move To Bar Social Media Use By Minors; U.K. Latest To Announce Ban

Several nations have rolled out or are drafting rules to stop children from using mainstream social platforms, with the United Kingdom making the most recent announcement on June 15. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. will prohibit people under 16 from accessing major social networks, excluding encrypted messaging services, and will tighten rules for AI-driven chat companions. Officials cast the measures as efforts to shield young people from bullying, addictive design and online predators, while civil liberties advocates warn that strict age checks could erode privacy and may do little to stop determined youngsters.

Australia was first to put an outright limit into force, enacting a ban in December 2025 that bars users under 16 from accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Regulators there have told platforms they must use multiple verification tools rather than rely on self-declared ages, and firms that don’t comply face fines of about A$50 million — roughly US$34 million. Turkey’s parliament passed a restriction in April aimed at users younger than 15, and that measure now awaits the president’s confirmation. Indonesia, too, has announced a ban targeting those under 16 and plans to start enforcement with a list of popular apps and games.

Several European capitals have moved bills through parliaments or unveiled plans in recent months. France’s legislature approved a measure late in January to bar under-15s from social networks and is awaiting further approval in the upper chamber. Denmark says it has secured cross-party backing to prohibit access for 15-year-olds and younger and is developing a government-backed digital ID app that could support age checks; officials have suggested the rule could take effect by mid-2026. Canada introduced a digital safety bill in early June that would disallow under-16s from signing up unless platforms can prove they have effective child protections — the measure could take about a year to complete the legislative process.

Other European governments are proposing similar limits. Austria plans to ban social media for users up to 14 and aims to finalize draft legislation soon. Germany’s conservative leadership floated a ban for those under 16, although coalition partners have expressed reservations about a blanket ban. Greece intends to bar under-15s starting in January 2027, and Poland, Slovenia and Spain are preparing or discussing laws that would curtail access for children — Spain’s proposal would also make some executives personally liable for illegal or hateful content on their networks.

Southeast Asia has been active as well. Malaysia signaled in late 2025 that it would forbid under-16s from using mainstream social platforms, with plans to roll out the policy this year. Indonesia’s list of affected services includes both video and social apps as well as some online gaming platforms, reflecting worries about younger users’ exposure across different types of services. But implementing age limits raises practical questions: tech firms say robust identity checks are costly and intrusive, and parents and schools say kids may simply move to less-regulated apps or use someone else’s account.

Independent experts contacted for perspective stressed trade-offs. A privacy attorney noted that most age-verification methods require personal data or identity databases that can be misused, and a child development specialist suggested that cutting platform access addresses symptoms rather than root causes such as household routines and mental health services. Enforcement will likely vary widely: a handful of countries already have rules in place, many proposals still need parliamentary approval, and legal challenges from industry are probable. Lawmakers, tech companies and families will be watching closely as countries try to balance protection with privacy and practicality.