UK to Ban Under-16s from High-Risk Social Media Platforms

The UK government has announced sweeping new restrictions that will bar children under 16 from accessing social media platforms deemed ‘high risk’, marking one of the most ambitious attempts yet to protect young people from online harms.

The measures, set to be introduced later this year, will require social media companies to prevent underage users from creating accounts on apps that pose significant risks to children’s mental health and safety. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to £25 million or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is higher.

What Counts as High Risk?

Platforms will be classified as high risk based on several factors, including the presence of addictive features like infinite scroll and autoplay, the prevalence of harmful content, and inadequate content moderation. Popular apps such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are expected to fall under the new restrictions, though the government hasn’t yet published a definitive list.

The policy won’t affect all social media. Educational platforms and messaging services with robust safety features may receive exemptions, allowing young people to maintain digital connections whilst being shielded from more dangerous environments.

Industry Pushback Expected

Tech giants are already voicing concerns about the practicality of enforcement. Current age verification systems rely heavily on users self-reporting their birth dates, a method that’s proven notoriously easy to circumvent. The new rules will likely require companies to implement more sophisticated verification methods, potentially including facial recognition technology or credit card checks.

But privacy advocates warn these solutions come with their own risks. Collecting sensitive biometric data from users could create new vulnerabilities and surveillance concerns that might outweigh the intended protections.

Parents and Experts Weigh In

A government spokesperson said the measures respond to ‘overwhelming evidence’ that social media exposure harms young people’s mental health. ‘We’ve seen rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm rise dramatically among teenagers, and there’s a clear correlation with social media use. It’s time to act decisively to protect our children.’

Still, not everyone’s convinced this is the right approach. Some child development experts argue that outright bans may simply drive young people to use these platforms covertly, without parental oversight or support. They’re calling instead for better digital literacy education and more nuanced parental controls.

The legislation is expected to pass through Parliament in the coming months, with enforcement beginning in early 2025. Social media companies will have a six-month transition period to implement the necessary changes to their platforms and verification systems.