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Canada introduces bill to ban social media for children under 16

ban social media for children under 16, with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety

Squishy toy trend caused 'traumatising' burns

ban of children using social media.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg3vjkx9d7o) Social platforms operating in the UK are [already

‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK

banning platforms because they operate in social media would be too punitive. Instead, the government should focus on features that are deemed unsafe. “We are calling for universal standards for all platforms accessed by children

NSPCC reports sharp rise in children being blackmailed over sexual images in UK

children’s social media feeds. The government has already committed to some form of action, having [committed last month](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/28/ministers-open-minded-uk-social-media-limits-bridget-phillipson) to either repeating the Australian ban or imposing restrictions on platforms

Limit social media ban for under-16s to unsafe apps, Starmer urged

platforms to meet strict safety standards to continue to offer their services to under-16s,” they wrote in a letter to the prime minister. “We believe a binary debate between banning children from social media

Turkiye MPs pass bill to restrict social media use for children under 15

social media companies [revoked](/news/2026/1/16/australia-declares-child-social-media-ban-victory-as-4-7m-accounts-closed) access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children. Last month, Indonesia began implementing a new government regulation banning children younger than 16 from access to digital platforms

Social media as bad for young people as smoking, top doctors say

platforms deemed harmful to 16. "Later today, I, and other families who have lost children to social media, will tell the prime minister directly: social media is a product, and like any other faulty product

Labour set to announce crackdown on social media for children within weeks

social media ban, which has been in force for nearly six months. Some leading child protection groups reject a similar blanket ban fearing an online safety “cliff edge”. School leaders, represented by the National Association

EU needs to delay social media access for children - von der Leyen

bans for children as well. The EU has been at odds with social media platforms

UK government announces £132.5m after-school clubs package

children’s access to social media, with the restrictions expected to be introduced in the coming days. The prime minister is understood to be considering an [Australian-style ban](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/09/australia-under-16-social-media-ban-begins-apps-listed), alongside options such

Molly Russell's dad says PM rushing social media restrictions 'deplorable'

children's access to social media within days. Some media reports have suggested under-16s could banned from accessing "high-risk" social media platforms

TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for kids, says Ofcom

ban social media for under-16s soon ends. YouTube said it worked with child safety experts to provide "industry-leading, age-appropriate" experiences for children. TikTok said it was "very disappointing" Ofcom had failed

UK police bosses say unsafe social media platforms should be blocked for under-16s

media platforms should be blocked for under-16s Children should be blocked from accessing social, AI and gaming apps which do not disable "high-risk" features such as private messaging, UK police chiefs have said

Nearly half of UK girls saw harmful social media content in a week, research shows

banning the use of social media for children and using Ofcom’s powers to force social media firms to act.” An Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) survey of more than 2,000 adults found

UK to ban under-16s from ‘high risk’ social media apps

social media apps while safer platforms will be subjected to restrictions, under a sweeping government crackdown. Under-18s will also be banned from using romantic or sexual AI chatbots after a [consultation on keeping children

MPs vote against social media ban for under-16s a second time

ban on social media on the face of the bill.” As well as considering raising the age limit on social media from 13 to 16, the government consultation is also looking at addressing the addictive

Trump health officials issue advisory on children and teens’ excessive screen time

children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms as well as China’s “minor mode” program, which requires device-level restrictions ⁠and app-specific rules to restrict screen time depending

Starmer tells Apple and Google to ban nude images on children's phones

social media use, with ministers consulting on measures ranging from age limits to bans on addictive platform features. Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "Protecting children

Esther Ghey's dismay over PM meeting tech bosses first

platforms." The government responded: "We have launched a consultation looking at everything from age limits and safer design features on AI chatbots and games, to a social media ban. "We're also running pilots with

Why is the UK launching an ‘Australia plus’ social media ban and how will it work?

children aged under 16” have been removed, deactivated or restricted from signing into platforms. More than 4.7m social media accounts were deactivated, removed or restricted in the first days after the ban