Signal Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move / UAE bans under-15s from social media

Summary

On 15 June 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled legislation that will make platforms such as X, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok unavailable to under-16s, following Australia's earlier ban; messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal are not expected to be included. The government also wants restrictions on harmful features such as livestreaming and stranger contact with children, extended to a wider range of online services including gaming sites, with protections switched on by default for 16-17 year olds. Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the UK would be the first country to bar under-18s from chatbots primarily offering sexual or romantic role-play, with other AI chat apps required to restrict “intimate functionalities.” Legislation is expected before Parliament by the end of the year, with the first restrictions potentially taking effect in spring 2027; Ofcom will study age-assurance methods and produce an enforcement strategy. Critics, including Oxford researchers and investigative reporters, flagged loopholes: 16-year-olds can legally consent to sex and medical treatment yet would be barred from chatbot romantic role-play, and smaller unregulated chatbot services have emerged to capture users displaced when Character.AI barred minors in October 2025. The UAE separately barred under-15s from social media.