UK to ban TikTok, YouTube, other social media apps for children under 16, Starmer says

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is taking on some of the world's largest technology companies, announcing Monday that Britain will ban children under 16 from using major social media platforms — including TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube — and impose hefty penalties on companies that fail to keep minors off their services.

The restrictions, expected to take effect early next year, would also apply to Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal, as well as YouTube Kids, would be exempt.