Social media ban: Send us YOUR questions
BBC News cyber correspondent Joe Tidy is on hand to answer YOUR questions on the social media ban
- Published
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban under-16s from using social media in the UK, in what the government says is an effort to make children safer online.
The proposed rules would apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Facebook, but messaging apps such as WhatsApp are not expected to be included.
The changes are not due to happen straight away, with the government saying, once the law is approved, the new rules are expected to come into force in spring 2027.
The plans also go further than stopping children from having social media accounts. The government wants to restrict certain features too, such as live-streaming, or areas online where strangers might be able to contact children.
Ministers are also considering whether there should be limits on late-night use of some apps, sometimes described as digital curfews, as well as breaks in features like endless scrolling, often called 'doom scrolling'.
Joe Tidy on what the social media ban for under 16s means (15 June 2026)
However, many of you may still have questions about how the rules would work in everyday life.
For example, would children still be able to watch YouTube or scroll on TikTok without an account, or chat with mates while gaming?
What will it mean for comments shared on websites like Newsround, and the services used to keep in touch with friends and family.
If you have a question about the government's plans, add it to the comments below and we'll try and put as many as possible to BBC News cyber correspondent Joe Tidy.