The UK government has announced a ban on social media for children under 16. The ban will start in early 2027. The government hopes to pass the law before Christmas. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, "I am not prepared to compromisecompromise/ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/L2妥协；让步to give up something you want in order to reach an agreement with someone on the safety and happiness of our children."
Tech companies like Meta and Snapchat warned that a ban could push children to unsafeunsafeL1涉及或导致危险或风险的行为。involving or causing danger or risk online places. However, many parents support the ban. A survey found that 90% of parents backed it. Messaging apps like WhatsApp will still work for under-16s. YouTube Kids is also exemptexempt/ɪɡˈzempt/L2被豁免的；免除的not required to follow a rule or do something that others have to do from the ban.
The government will restrictrestrict/rɪˈstrɪkt/L2限制；约束to control or limit something, especially by rules some features for young users. For example, it will limit livestreaming and contact with strangers. It will also ban intimateintimate/ˈɪntɪmət/L2亲密的；私密的very personal and private, often involving close feelings or relationships chats with AI for under-18s. The government will also look at restrictions on infinite scroll and curfews for 16 and 17-year-olds. Campaignerscampaigners/kæmˈpeɪnəz/L2活动人士；倡导者people who work to achieve social or political change say the ban will give children more time to grow up before using social media.
The UK follows Australia, which banned social media for under-16s in December. The ban is a major step to protectprotect/prəˈtekt/L1保护；防护to keep someone or something from being hurt children online. The government said it is not the end of the story and more actions will follow.
