UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to prohibit individuals aged 16 and younger from accessing social media platforms and potentially streaming services. The legislation, intended to pass before the end of the year, is slated for implementation in spring 2027. The list of confirmed social media services affected includes TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Instagram. Messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Signal are explicitly excluded from these restrictions.
The government has stated that these measures will extend beyond a simple social media ban, introducing "world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s." These protections are expected to apply to a broader range of online services, including those found on gaming sites. However, specific details regarding which streaming platforms or gaming services will be impacted have not yet been disclosed.
The announcement follows a trend seen in other countries, such as Australia, which implemented a similar ban. The implications for the gaming industry are significant, as social media and streaming services are primary channels for advertising and engaging with younger audiences. The extent to which online games that facilitate communication with unknown users, like RuneScape or potentially platforms such as Twitch and Discord, will be affected by these new regulations remains to be seen. The government has indicated a desire to implement restrictions that go further than those in any other country, aiming to protect children online and restore aspects of childhood.