Yesterday, the United Kingdom announced a new policy banning children under the age of sixteen from accessing social media platforms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer argued that social media companies have failed to adequately protect young users from harmful content, addictive platform designs, cyberbullying, and online exploitation.

Under the new rules, social media companies will be barred from offering services to users under sixteen. Platforms expected to be covered include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X, and YouTube. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are expected to remain exempt, while YouTube Kids will continue to be available for younger users.

The government has also proposed additional restrictions on livestreaming, direct messaging from strangers, and certain gaming platform features that allow children to interact with unknown adults online.

Britain is the latest country to enforce social media bans for minors, and according to the British government, the new policy mirrors a similar effort by Australia, which took effect last year.

The British policy is significant because rather than holding parents responsible for any online activities by minors, the social media companies themselves will be liable if they offer services to anyone under the age of sixteen. That legal mechanism is designed to force technology platforms themselves to police online activities…

Minnesota passed it. New Hampshire followed. Pennsylvania is next. States countrywide are passing legislation on flying cars because they know what's coming.*

Doroni’s been preparing for this moment for years. Their H1-X aircraft is designed to travel as far as 100 miles at up to 120 mph before parking in a two-car garage. That attracted 600+ pre-orders worth $240M+ in potential revenue. 

Last year, the FAA cleared the path toward certification. Now states are doing their part.

After unveiling the full-sized showroom prototype of their H1-X personal aircraft in March, Doroni’s preparing to start test flights with the FAA next year.

By 2028, they’re targeting the first commercial deliveries. By 2032, they’ve got a $1.4B annual revenue target. Which is why the timing of this raise couldn't be better.

Britain's move reflects a growing international trend. Australia became the first major country to enact a nationwide social media ban for under-16s, with its law entering force in late 2025. Indonesia introduced a similar prohibition in 2026, while Malaysia has announced age-based restrictions and mandatory age verification.

France requires parental consent for social media use by children under 15, and China has implemented some of the world's strictest controls, including screen-time limits, curfews, and content restrictions for minors. Spain, Poland, Slovenia, and several other countries are also considering comparable measures.

The U.K. ban is scheduled to take effect in spring 2027, giving regulators and technology companies time to develop and implement age-verification systems. Britain's communications regulator, Ofcom, will oversee enforcement and is expected to require robust age-assurance measures such as facial age estimation, digital identity verification, or other methods designed to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Companies that fail to comply could face significant penalties.

Despite broad public support, critics argue that age-verification requirements could create privacy concerns and may prove difficult to enforce. Researchers studying Australia's experience have found that some teenagers continue to circumvent restrictions through workarounds such as VPNs or false credentials. Technology companies have also warned that bans could push young users toward less regulated online spaces.

The British government’s promise to ‘give back childhood’ may be an exaggeration, but there is a growing body of scientific evidence indicating the harmful effects of prolonged social media use on minors.

The ban will likely be difficult to enforce and may create access issues for adults, since tech companies may have no choice but to require age verification for all users. As the number of countries regulating social media access for minors continues to grow, the days of unregulated and unlimited social media access for everyone are coming to a close.

*Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Doroni Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.doroni.io/