Search

Social media executives deny platforms are inherently addictive to children

platforms had not been designed to be addictive, and said there was no evidence they were “addictive by nature”. They also told MPs they thought a social media ban for under-16s, favoured by many

Social media ban unenforceable, online safety charity warns

ban in January, but in March, its eSafety Commission found that seven in 10 parents whose children already had a social media account said they were still on the platforms

Tuesday briefing: Is a social media ban in the UK enough to help protect young people?

children. --- **Lessons from Australia** Deciding how and what to ban is the easy part, Dan tells me. Critics of Australia’s policy – which banned all under-16s from using social media last December

Rushed social media ban for under-16s in UK could ‘unravel’, charity warns

platforms could unravel, after a report that the prime minister, [Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/keir-starmer), is to announce a ban on under-16s accessing “harmful” social media apps. It is not known which apps would

Mother of boy who may have died in TikTok challenge urges No 10 to ban social media

social media ban closes this week. “Come on, get a grip, let’s actually stand up, do something, make a decision,” she said on Today on BBC Radio 4. “I don’t care if they

Canada proposes teen social media ban - with workaround for tech firms

ban access to social media for young teenagers and children, though it has since been criticised for not being effective. The law bars those under 16 from creating a new account on platforms

Starmer tells social media firms in No 10 meeting ‘things can’t go on like this’

platforms, including an [Australia-style ban](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/09/australia-under-16-social-media-ban-begins-apps-listed) for under-16s. Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, and Google owns YouTube. The government is [consulting on](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/19/uk-ministers-launch-consultation-into-whether-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s) setting a firm social media

‘Social media should be treated like tobacco’: Streeting calls for under-16s ban on certain platforms

platforms, with ministers expected to make a final decision within weeks. Streeting said: “Social media should be treated like tobacco – it’s extremely addictive, bad for our health, and big tech is borrowing

White House urges UK not to ban social media for under-16s

ban](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/01/australia-social-media-ban-adoption-world) on under-16s accessing social media, meaning popular platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are all blocked. The White House has also expressed concern that

Musk’s Grok accused of violating Canadian privacy laws on deepfakes

ban social media use for children under 16, with exceptions for companies that meet safety standards. The legislation would create a digital regulator to help establish safety standards for AI chatbots, much like Grok. ## Global

UK government move to delay social media ban faces pushback in Lords

ban faces pushback in Lords Peers will vote on Monday on a government move that could delay action on children’s access to social media for up to three years, which has triggered a backlash

New social media restrictions will end 'system failing our kids', PM says

social media platforms and see restrictions imposed on other sites. [The Sunday Times reported](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/social-media-ban-keir-starmer-qcmskxc5z) the prime minister was set to announce a ban covering the same 10 platforms now prohibited for under

Meta found in breach of EU law for failing to keep children off platforms

children under 13 from using its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Issuing the preliminary findings of a nearly two-year investigation, the [European Commission](https://www.theguardian.com/world/european-commission) said on Wednesday that Meta did not have effective

Starmer to announce ‘Australia plus’ ban on social media for under-16s

media apps](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/12/uk-to-ban-under-16s-from-high-risk-social-media-apps) such as TikTok, Instagram and X in sweeping restrictions described as “Australia plus”, the Guardian understands. Teenagers will be banned from all the main social platforms and online products that

Wikipedia founder brands Australia’s social media ban an ‘unmitigated disaster’ and an ‘embarrassment’

banning under 16s from the platforms](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/01/australia-social-media-ban-adoption-world) such as X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok – Wales expressed his opposition to government policies, such as that in Australia, for keeping teens off social media. ![Jimmy

Social media leaders called to Downing Street over children's safety

children by voting against a ban on social media for under-16s and against removing smartphones from schools. "Other countries are waking up to the harms, but under Keir Starmer the UK is falling behind

Los Angeles becomes first major school district to limit classroom screen time

platforms on school-issued devices. They will also allow parents to opt their children out of using specific digital tools. The resolution cited research indicating that children aged 8 to 11 who exceed screen-time

MPs call for sunbed advertising ban to help prevent skin cancer

social media platforms to promote trusted sources and scientifically accurate information on sun safety. It also made recommendations to remove VAT on all children's sun cream and on high SPF products for adults. Currently

Crackdown on tech platforms will go ahead despite US intervention, says No 10

social media ban for under-16s next week, alongside other restrictions such as a possible block on conversations with strangers on gaming platforms. Limits on AI chatbot use are also under consideration. Asked about

'I can't stop using it' - under-16s have their say on possible social media ban

children from extreme and violent content and parents will "not forgive the continued delay". The government also committed earlier this week to a statutory ban for phones in schools. Like Isaac, Iga thinks more should