# Ban social media for under-16s

> “That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.”
>
> — Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, Labour Party; Press release (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), 15 June 2026

- **Status:** In plan
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Culture & sport](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/culture-and-sport)
- **Speaker:** [Sir Keir Starmer](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/keir-starmer), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 15 June 2026
- **Where:** Press release (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
- **Deadline:** 31 May 2027
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Children under 16 in the UK and their parents
- **When:** Regulations before Christmas 2026; in force in spring 2027
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 21 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-social-media-ban-under-16s-2027

## Where it stands

The ban is to be made by regulations under a power that the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 added to the Online Safety Act 2023. The government said on 15 July 2026 that the first regulations would be laid before Parliament by the end of 2026 and come into force in spring 2027, and the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary told the Commons on 8 September 2026 that the government is on track for that timetable. No regulations had been laid by 20 October 2026. Spring 2027 is read as 31 May 2027.

## Timeline

- 15 June 2026, Promised: The Prime Minister announces a ban on social media for under-16s
- 15 July 2026, In plan: The government says the first regulations will be laid by the end of 2026 and come into force in spring 2027 ([evidence](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-social-media-curfews-and-crackdown-on-addictive-features-to-better-protect-16-and-17-year-olds-online))
- 31 May 2027, Deadline (to come): The ban is due in force in spring 2027 (editorial date, end of May 2027)

## About the cost

No cost was given with the promise.

## Sources

- [Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Social media to be banned for under-16s (15 Jun 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back)
- [Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: New social media curfews and crackdown on addictive features (15 Jul 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-social-media-curfews-and-crackdown-on-addictive-features-to-better-protect-16-and-17-year-olds-online)
- [Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Growing up in the online world, government response (July 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation/outcome/growing-up-in-the-online-world-government-response-july-2026)
- [Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, section 70 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/70)
- [Hansard, House of Commons, 8 Sep 2026: Online Safety](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-09-08/debates/30B4AD07-8ACF-462B-A262-B98157506439/OnlineSafety)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 21 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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