London: The UK’s planned ban on social media for under-16s is expected to take effect next March, the culture secretary has confirmed.

The government announced the ban on 15 June 2026, calling it an ‘Australia Plus’ approach. The law still needs to pass Parliament, with ministers aiming to approve it by Christmas 2026.

The ban is expected to cover TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X, while messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are set to be exempt.

Platforms that fail to keep under-16s off their services face fines of up to 18 million pounds or 10 percent of global revenue under the Online Safety Act, enforced by Ofcom. Companies will need what the government calls ‘highly effective age assurance’.

The government says social media exposes children to addictive, distressing content and contributes to anxiety and bullying. The move follows similar action in Australia and other countries.

Critics warn of privacy risks from mandatory age checks and question whether the ban will be enforceable in practice.