Tech firms criticize UK plan to ban social media for under-16s, calling it a push toward an “unregulated” online environment

The UK announced new legislation on June 15 that would prevent children under 16 from using a set of major social media platforms, a move that has already drawn sharp criticism from large technology companies, according to a report by Deadline.

The package would apply to 10 platforms, including X, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat, with the stated goal of limiting minors’ access to social media sites that lawmakers characterize as operating in a largely unregulated environment for young users.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the law is “world leading,” framing it as a step toward tighter rules for the online services that reach children and families in the United Kingdom. The ban would be implemented through the new statutory framework set out by the government as Parliament considers the legislation.

Deadline reported that major tech firms responded to the proposal by arguing that the government’s plan would have the opposite effect of what policymakers intend. The companies’ central contention, as described in the report, is that the restrictions may push minors toward services and parts of the internet with fewer safeguards, producing a “wild west” dynamic rather than a controlled, regulated environment.

The companies’ critique also highlighted the practical question of enforcement and age verification, a challenge that regulators and courts have grappled with in multiple jurisdictions when minors’ access is restricted. By tying compliance to a set of high-profile platforms, lawmakers are effectively requiring companies to build or adjust systems to prevent under-16 access and to demonstrate compliance with the new legal requirements.

For families, the bill’s immediate impact would be felt through day-to-day access to mainstream platforms used by teenagers and younger children, including services used for messaging, video viewing, and content feeds. For platform operators, the legislation creates an immediate compliance timeline and potential exposure to penalties tied to how age checks are implemented and audited under the new regime.

The next step is the legislative process that follows the government’s announcement, with details of the final rules, implementation timeline, and enforcement mechanisms set to be clarified as the bill moves forward. The companies’ criticisms, as reported, suggest they may seek adjustments or exemptions during that process, particularly around how the rules will affect minors’ access and whether they could increase usage of less regulated alternatives.