The UK government has revealed it will ban social media for anyone under the age of 16. This ban will come into effect in early 2027. The ban will take effect in early 2027. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the move as “the right move for Britain”. This will apply to major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. The UK won’t be alone either, joining a growing number of countries tightening their borders or imposing age restrictions over the growing social media problem. These five countries have already imposed such restrictions: Australia became the first country to impose a 100% ban on people under 16 from having social media accounts in November 2025. The new law forces tech companies to verify the age of users and block accounts belonging to minors. This was the result of growing concern over the years about the impact of social media on cyberbullying, online harassment, body images, and the addictive nature of social media algorithms. Supporters hailed the ban as one of the most effective digital child protection laws ever enacted. Indonesia made headlines across Asia when it announced plans to ban social media use for children under 16 in March 2026. The move came after growing concerns about online addiction, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content and the amount of time children spend on digital platforms. According to various media reports, the government said the rule applies to about 70 million children under the age of 16, 25% of Indonesia’s population of 280 million. MalaysiaMalaysia began enforcing rules preventing millions of children under 16 from having social media accounts in early June. Social media platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, must implement age-verification systems and prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. Identified users under the age of 16 have one month to download or transfer data, including photos and videos, before restrictions or other action is applied. Companies failing to comply could face fines of up to 10 million ringgit (US$2.5 million). Parents whose children succeed in circumventing the law will not be punished. FranceFrance chose a different approach in July 2023. Instead of a complete ban, the country passed a law that requires any child under the age of 15 to have parental approval to be on social media. However, technical challenges have affected its implementation. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron is hoping France will become one of the first EU countries to ban social media for under-15s, following similar moves in Australia and Indonesia. This comes amid growing evidence linking excessive use of social media to anxiety, poor sleep and declining mental health in teens. China has adopted one of the toughest approaches to children’s digital use. Authorities placed restrictions on screen time, gaming hours, and online content for minors. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has also asked technology companies to implement a strict miner mode. When the feature is turned on, these operating systems and apps automatically enforce daily usage limits (e.g. 40 minutes for young teens) and block Internet access between 10 pm and 6 am. According to Chinese officials, it aims to reduce Internet addiction and encourage healthy routines among young people. Why parents around the world are paying attention The growing call for restrictions comes from a common concern. Interviews in several countries have shown that excessive use of social media is associated with increased levels of anxiety, isolation, sleep disturbance, cyberbullying and low self-esteem among youth. Still, social media is not bad at all. It also helps children learn, express themselves creatively and stay connected with friends. That’s why many experts emphasize that the main challenge is not to ban technology, but to find the right balance.