Britain will forge ahead with restrictions on social media use by children under 16, the government has declared, brushing off a formal objection from the Trump administration that arrived this week at the US embassy in London.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she was unconcerned by American pressure and that her focus remained squarely on protecting British youth. An announcement on the scope and shape of new online restrictions is expected within days, following the closure of a public consultation on child safety last week.
The US embassy submission warned against what it called blunt, one-size-fits-all bans on social media access. Instead, Washington advocated for parental control tools and pushed platforms to offer safer experiences rather than outright prohibitions. Officials argued that technical age-verification methods designed for older teens could not simply be adapted for younger children.
Kendall rejected the concerns outright. "I am not concerned in the slightest," she told the Guardian, noting that three-quarters of respondents to government polling backed an under-16 ban. She denied that regulatory pressure on American tech firms would discourage investment in Britain.
"My focus is on what is right for British parents and British families," Kendall said, adding she remained open to reading any formal submission but would not be swayed by external pressure.
Downing Street echoed that stance. A spokesman stated simply: "We will always act in the UK's national interest and protecting young people is no different."
The clash reflects a broader divide over online regulation between Washington and London. The Trump administration has previously criticized the UK's Online Safety Act on free speech grounds. Vice President JD Vance declared that free speech in Britain is "in retreat," while Republican lawmakers have labeled the law an "online censorship law." US officials have also expressed worry that regulations disproportionately burden American companies while offering breaks to competitors.
The British government is exploring several measures beyond a simple age bar. Plans under review include blocks on contact between minors and unknown users on gaming platforms, as well as restrictions on AI chatbots aimed at young people. The speed of the rollout has raised concerns from some quarters. The Molly Rose Foundation, a respected voice in the debate, has warned that rushing into a ban risks unraveling support. The charity suggested instead that the government impose strict safety standards first, then ban only those apps that fail to meet those requirements.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is already pursuing a judicial review of parts of the Online Safety Act, challenging the fee and fine structure imposed by British regulators. The company faces particular exposure if the under-16 restrictions move forward as currently discussed.
The UK move follows Australia's implementation of a blanket under-16 ban on social media, which blocks access to platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Kendall has previously stated that nine out of 10 parents surveyed back a similar restriction in Britain.
Author James Rodriguez: "The British government is right to ignore Washington's lobbying on this one, but the speed of implementation and the lack of technical clarity about how age-verification will actually work remain genuine problems that won't disappear just because ministers say they won't."
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