UKIE hails video games being classed separately from social media as UK government announces ban

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, set to take effect by Spring 2027. The government plans to pass the necessary regulation before Christmas 2026. The ban will apply to major platforms including TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter/X, Snapchat, and Instagram, but will exclude messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal.

A key distinction in the announcement is that video games themselves are being classified separately from social media—a decision welcomed by UKIE, the UK video games trade body. CEO Nick Poole stated that the industry already has adequate measures in place to protect children from inappropriate content.

However, the ban will extend to gaming-related “services,” specifically targeting livestreaming capabilities. This means platforms like Twitch could be affected, and gaming consoles from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft may need to adjust their livestreaming policies in the UK. The government will announce an exhaustive list of banned platforms at a later date.

Notably, the ban will not restrict multiplayer gaming itself, allowing children to continue playing online games with friends. Communication functionality will be blocked by default on gaming sites for under-17s. Starmer emphasized the unprecedented nature of the measure, stating the UK is “going further than any country in the world” on child safety online.

Sources

• UKIE hails video games being classed separately from social media as UK government announces ban
• Under-16s to Be Banned From Social Media, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Says
• Does UK Social Media Ban Affect Gaming? Are Twitch & Kick Banned?
• The UK’s dramatic under-16 social media ban will also apply to “gaming services”, but at least they’re not coming for multiplayer
• UK government announces ban on social media for under-16s, including YouTube and possibly Twitch