The United Kingdom has officially banned children from accessing major social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The sweeping legislation, which came into effect this week, makes the U.K. one of the most aggressive countries in the world when it comes to protecting minors online.
The move has been welcomed by child safety advocates, who argue that unrestricted social media access contributes to mental health issues, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. Platforms now face heavy fines if they fail to enforce the age restrictions. The legislation is part of a broader global movement, with Australia having passed similar laws earlier this year.
Critics, however, raise concerns about the practicality of enforcement and whether age verification tools are robust enough to prevent underage access without compromising user privacy.
