UK is banning children's social media use. Here's what other countries are doing
The UK is moving to ban children's social media use, joining a growing list of countries implementing restrictions to protect young people online. The article outlines different approaches taken by various nations, from outright bans to age-based limitations and parental consent requirements.
Background
- The UK is considering or implementing new restrictions on social media access for minors, joining a growing global trend of governments regulating platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat to protect children's mental health and safety.
- Australia passed a law in 2024 banning social media for under-16s; France and some US states have also introduced age-verification requirements or parental consent mandates.
- Major tech companies (Meta, ByteDance, Google) are pushing back, arguing these laws are technically difficult to enforce, raise privacy concerns, and shift responsibility away from platform design improvements.
- The debate is driven by rising concern over child depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content linked to heavy social media use — but critics question the evidence base and warn of unintended consequences like reduced access to support communities.