Over the past months, many countries have announced plans to restrict social media access for children and teens. The U.K. is the latest country to impose a ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age.

The regulations aim to reduce the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, such as cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators. However, there are concerns about privacy regarding invasive age verification and excessive government intervention. Critics, including Amnesty Tech, have said such bans are ineffective and ignore the realities of younger generations.

Of note is Australia's pioneering ban on social media for children under 16 in December 2025, which excludes WhatsApp and YouTube Kids. Other countries like Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the U.K. are also considering or implementing bans.

Experts have questioned whether a blanket ban would be effective. While some believe it could be in place by spring 2027, others argue that such measures might lead to unintended consequences, including increased use of alternative platforms with less oversight.