5 countries that have banned social media for children and why

Britain has announced a ban for under-16s on major social media apps, with implementation expected around Spring 2027. The government says the move is meant to protect young people from harmful content and endless scrolling, and it reflects a broader push to make tech companies responsible for age enforcement rather than leaving the burden on parents alone.

The proposal is part of a wider international conversation about children’s online safety and the impact of excessive screen time on mental health, sleep and learning. Policymakers argue that digital platforms should play a greater role in creating age-appropriate online spaces, while critics continue to debate how such restrictions can be enforced effectively without compromising privacy or limiting access to beneficial online resources.

Britain has positioned the measure as one step in a broader effort to strengthen child safety in the digital world, signalling that protecting young users will increasingly require cooperation between governments, technology companies and families.