UK Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s, Age Verification Required From 2027

The UK government plans to ban children under 16 from joining major social media platforms, introducing mandatory age verification requirements that could significantly change how people create accounts online.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the proposal following a national consultation that received more than 116,000 responses. The government says nine out of ten parents supported a social media ban for under-16s, while around two-thirds of young people agreed that younger users should be excluded from at least some platforms.

If approved, the regulations are expected before Christmas, with enforcement scheduled to begin in spring 2027.

New Users Could Face ID and Facial Verification

Under the proposal, social media companies would need to verify that new users are at least 16 years old before allowing them to create accounts.

Platforms may require users to upload government-issued identification or complete facial age-estimation checks. Existing long-term accounts are expected to receive exemptions under the current framework.

The proposal could effectively end anonymous account creation on many major social networks in the UK, particularly for new users.

Adults may avoid additional checks if they have older accounts, linked payment methods, or previously verified email addresses. However, anyone creating a new account would likely need to complete direct age verification.

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X Included

The proposed rules would apply to social platforms built around social interaction and algorithmic content feeds.

The government specifically named Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal would remain exempt. The government also plans exemptions for educational platforms, music streaming services, e-commerce websites, and YouTube Kids.

Restrictions Will Extend Beyond Social Media

The proposals go beyond account creation limits.

The government wants to restrict features such as livestreaming and communication with strangers for children across a wider range of online services, including gaming platforms.

One example is Roblox, which has already introduced expanded parental controls and facial age verification tools for younger users.

Restrictions on livestreaming and stranger contact would also apply by default to users aged 16 and 17.

The government is also considering additional measures, including:

• Overnight social media curfews for minors
• Mandatory breaks from infinite scrolling
• Stronger protections against unwanted contact
• Wider controls on algorithmic recommendations

AI Companion Chatbots Face New Rules

The plans also target AI-powered companion services.

AI romantic companion chatbots would have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Intimate or relationship-focused chatbot features would face broader restrictions for anyone under 18.

The move forms part of a wider UK push toward online age verification and digital identity systems, including future digital identification initiatives.

Privacy and Security Concerns Remain

The proposal has already drawn criticism from privacy advocates, digital rights groups, and security researchers.

Critics argue that protecting children could result in a broader requirement for all internet users to verify their age before accessing online services.

Researchers have warned that collecting government IDs or biometric data creates additional privacy and cybersecurity risks. Potential concerns include identity theft, data breaches, and misuse of sensitive personal information.

The Open Rights Group has warned that many users over 16 could end up handing personal documents or biometric data to third-party age-verification providers.

Some experts also question how effective the measures will be, arguing that teenagers may simply migrate to less-regulated platforms.

Recent age-verification rollouts have already sparked controversy on other platforms, including Discord’s global age verification plan and the resulting backlash that sparked a surge in searches for alternatives.

VPNs Remain a Challenge

Enforcement may prove difficult because VPN services can allow users to bypass geographic restrictions and age controls.

The UK government has said it does not currently plan to ban VPNs outright, although officials have explored options to limit their use by children.

Any future attempt to restrict VPN access could create additional age-verification requirements for VPN users themselves, raising further privacy concerns.

The UK’s proposal follows a similar path to Australia’s under-16 social media ban, which took effect in late 2025, but the British government says its approach will extend protections to a wider range of online services and digital features.

As the rules move toward formal legislation, the debate is increasingly shifting from child safety toward a broader question: how much personal identification people should need to provide before accessing the modern internet.

Via BleepingComputer