UK under-16 social media ban may affect YouTube Kids, Spotify
The gist
UK regulations under consideration could bring up to 150 platforms, including YouTube Kids and Spotify, into its under-16 ban.
The final list is unsettled, so parents and apps face uncertainty before the March start.
How it unfolded
- Dec 10, 2025Australia's under-16 social media ban took effect, barring under-16s from accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X and Facebook, with fines of up to about $50 million.
- Jun 2026The UK government announced its plan to stop children under 16 from using social media, initially covering 10 of the biggest platforms.
- Jun 15, 2026The government said the ban would cover Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X, with YouTube banned for under-16s but YouTube Kids not included.
Key terms
- secondary legislation
- Law made by the executive branch under powers delegated by a primary statute, rather than by the legislature itself.
- Online Safety Act 2023
- A UK law that regulates online content and requires platforms to protect users, especially children, from harmful material.
Source: Wikipedia