Social media ban for under-16s to come into effect next March, Culture Secretary confirms
The UK government has confirmed that a ban on social media access for children under 16 will take effect in March. The policy aims to protect minors from online harms, with officials currently developing robust age-verification methods to enforce the restriction.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in digital regulation, setting a precedent for how governments can intervene in social media usage to protect child welfare.
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A ban on social media for under-16s will come into force from next March, the culture secretary has announced.
Lisa Nandy revealed the date of the ban during an event at Labour Conference in Liverpool on Sunday.
Until now, an exact date the ban would be impose had not been announced and ministers said it would come into effect in spring next year.
TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram are among the apps included in the ban.
A consultation, which was conducted this year and had more than 116,000 participants, revealed that 85% of parents believe the risk of social media outweigh any benefits.
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