Will a ban keep the UK’s kids off social media? – podcast

Politics The Guardian By Presented by Helen Pidd with Chris Stokel-Walker and Stephen Byrne; produced by Guy Szafman, Saskia Collette, Jacob Antigha and Rudi Zygadlo; executive producer Homa Khaleeli 17 Jun 2026 02:00 1 min read

Governments around the world want to keep under-16s off YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Australia has introduced a ban and now the UK is doing the same. Stephen Byrne and Chris Stokel-Walker report Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he wanted to ban under-16s from social media. Parents were calling out for more controls he said. But their children … well, their children have other ideas. “Snapchat, for example, is one of the best things that’s happened to me,” a 13-year-old tells Helen Pidd. “

Governments around the world want to keep under-16s off YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Australia has introduced a ban and now the UK is doing the same. Stephen Byrne and Chris Stokel-Walker report

Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he wanted to ban under-16s from social media. Parents were calling out for more controls he said. But their children … well, their children have other ideas.

“Snapchat, for example, is one of the best things that’s happened to me,” a 13-year-old tells Helen Pidd. “I don’t think adults understand, that is how we talk to our friends and fit in.”

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