The UK Announces Social Media Ban for Under-16s That's Even More Restrictive Than Australia

The United Kingdom is officially joining a growing list of countries worldwide that are banning teens from social media. On Monday, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced that under-16s would be banned from social media platforms, following the model used in Australia. Inspired by scientific studies linking increased social media use in minors to numerous dangerous mental and even physical health outcomes, ranging from depression and anxiety to poor sleep quality, Australia became the first country in the world to ban minors from social media back in December. The landmark Australian act banned everyone under 16 from having accounts on social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, and Twitch. Meanwhile, messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal were spared, as were AI chatbots. Dozens of governments around the world, from Malaysia to Brazil and the European Union, have since followed suit, introducing measures of their own. While the United States is not following Australia’s example via regulation, high-profile lawsuits in the past few months have held social media giants accountable for the negative impact the