UK announces social media ban for under-16s

Article excerpt

The UK will ban social media users under 16 from platforms like Instagram and TikTok, following Australia and Indonesia's lead. Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the move around child welfare, saying the apps make young people "unhappy." The announcement arrives amid growing global pressure on tech companies over their effects on adolescent mental health and online safety. It represents one of the strictest age-verification policies proposed by a major Western democracy, though implementation details remain unclear, particularly how platforms would verify users' ages without infringing on privacy.