UK Social Media Ban for Under-16s Could Take Effect by Spring 2027

### Executive Summary: The UK government has proposed a law to ban social media access for under-16s and introduce wider online-safety reforms, covering major platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, X), restricting risky features (livestreaming, stranger communication), and imposing age-assurance measures; the plan also targets intimate AI chatbots for users under 18 and cites international moves and enforcement challenges observed in Australia.