Common Sense Media Applauds New U.K. Law to Protect Children Under 16 From Addictive Social Media
LONDON, June 15, 2026 — Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer issued the following statement applauding the United Kingdom's new policy restricting social media for children under 16:
"Common Sense Media applauds Prime Minister Starmer and the British government for taking this critical step to protect children from addictive social media.
"The momentum is clearly building globally to protect children from social media harms, and Common Sense Media strongly supports this movement. We are championing legislation in California to delay the creation of social media accounts until age 16, and we strongly supported legislation that has passed in California and New York that the U.K. is including in its new policy, such as protecting children from strangers on gaming sites and reducing overnight notifications that harm children's well-being. We've also worked with Australia and other countries regarding their policies to protect children online. We look forward to keeping this momentum going and building a safer digital future for children in the U.K., the U.S., and across the globe.
"This new policy isn't about stopping our children from getting on social media. It's about stopping tech companies from getting to our children. Children can still find information and resources online. What changes is that a company can no longer hand a child the digital equivalent of a pack of cigarettes. Social media platforms are engineered to be addictive through predatory design, and the industry knows it. Infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds are hooks designed to target children. No parent can compete with the billions of dollars and millions of hours of engineers and behavioral scientists whose entire job is to maximize engagement. This is why the policymakers are stepping in.
"This is a pivotal moment. Lawmakers from London to Sacramento to Canberra are finally listening to the millions of families who, for years, have made clear their concerns about social media's impact on their children's well-being."
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year.