Britain has announced plans to ban individuals under the age of 16 from using a variety of social media applications, including popular platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. This initiative is designed to safeguard young people from exposure to detrimental content and reduce the amount of time they spend online. The proposed restriction places the U.K. among a growing number of nations implementing age-based limitations or requirements for social media access.
Global Regulatory Landscape
The U.K. joins a global movement to enforce stricter regulations on social media for minors. These measures have received support from some parents and child advocacy organizations, while critics raise concerns about their effectiveness and potential privacy implications.
In Australia, a ban introduced in December bars individuals under 16 from holding accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. Technology companies face potential fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($35 million) if they do not take adequate steps to remove underage accounts. To date, no fines have been issued, but the government reports that companies have deactivated nearly 5 million accounts identified as belonging to children.
Malaysia announced in March that users under 16 will be prohibited from creating accounts on platforms deemed potentially addictive or harmful, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and the gaming platform Roblox. Social media platforms with a significant user base in Malaysia, defined as at least 8 million users, are mandated to implement age-verification systems and block accounts for those under 16. Non-compliance could result in penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million).
A law enacted in March in another country, while not a complete ban, requires individuals under 16 to link their social media accounts to a legal guardian for supervision. This legislation also prohibits platforms from employing addictive features like infinite scroll and auto-playing videos. Digital services are further required to implement age verification that goes beyond simple self-declaration of being over 18 to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material.
Canada introduced legislation this month to establish the Digital Safety Commission of Canada. This regulatory body would have the authority to ban social media accounts for children under 16 unless companies demonstrate their ability to remove harmful content, such as nonconsensual intimate images and material that encourages self-harm, incites violence, or promotes hatred.
Several other nations, including France, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Thailand, and South Korea, are actively considering or in the process of enacting measures to limit minors' access to social media platforms.