# Starmer Just Pulled the Plug on Social Media for Under-16s > Source: > Published: 2026-06-15 15:00:09+00:00 Your teenager’s late-night TikTok scrolling just became a government priority. [Prime Minister Keir Starmer](https://www.gov.uk/government/people/keir-starmer) is preparing to [ban social media](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c77yx1jpg1nt) for under-16s while imposing nighttime curfews for older teens, targeting platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. The sweeping restrictions would also cover [AI chatbots](https://www.gadgetreview.com/openai-secretly-funded-child-safety-coalition-pushing-ai-age-laws) and require device manufacturers like Apple and Google to install content-blocking software that adults could bypass only through ID verification. The proposal stems from a massive [national consultation](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-conversation) that drew **116,000 responses**—making it the second-largest in UK history. Among parents who responded, **90%** supported raising the minimum age to 16, with **88%** believing fewer children would encounter harmful content. It’s the kind of overwhelming public support politicians dream about. ## Australia’s Warning Shot *Enforcement reality meets teenage ingenuity down under.* Before celebrating victory over Big Tech, consider Australia’s cautionary tale. Their under-16 social media ban launched in late 2025 with similar fanfare, yet polling shows **three in five** Australian children aged 12-15 still maintain active accounts. VPNs and fake birthdates proved more resilient than legislative enthusiasm. [Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy](https://www.radionewshub.com/articles/news-updates/Under-16s-social-media-ban-should-be-part-of-basket-of-measures--Lisa-Nandy) acknowledges Australia’s “insufficient age-verification measures” as evidence the UK must design “more stringent” enforcement—bureaucrat speak for mass [surveillance infrastructure](https://www.gadgetreview.com/us-operatives-built-a-surveillance-app-to-target-alberta-separatists). ## The Privacy Price Tag *Robust age checks demand unprecedented data collection from all users.* Effective enforcement requires platforms to verify every user’s identity through government documents, credit cards, or third-party age-verification services. Civil liberties groups warn this creates “[privacy-intrusive age verification](https://www.eff.org/pages/uk-online-safety-bill-massive-threat-online-privacy-security-and-speech)” extending far beyond social media to any site hosting user content. The [ Molly Rose Foundation](https://mollyrosefoundation.org/), established after 14-year-old Molly Russell’s suicide following exposure to harmful online content, suggests the ban may provide only “the perception of security” while pushing harm into less monitored spaces. ## Family Peace or Digital Prohibition? *The gap between parental relief and teenage reality remains wide.* Consultation responses indicated **75%** of families expect less arguing over screen time under age restrictions, while **77%** of teachers anticipate easier classroom management. Yet like Prohibition-era speakeasies, determined teens historically find workarounds faster than regulators can plug holes. The real question isn’t whether this reduces social media access—it’s whether pushing digital natives toward [VPNs](https://www.gadgetreview.com/are-vpns-dead-if-every-country-starts-age-verification) and unregulated platforms actually improves their online safety or simply moves the problem beyond parental oversight.