Parents have felt it for years — now the evidence is clear and governments are acting. Here's what the research shows, what lawmakers across the UK, Europe and beyond are doing, and why Tethar gives your family that protection today.
Researchers are careful to say the picture is complex — but a growing body of evidence links heavy smartphone and social‑media use in adolescence with lower wellbeing, and children are routinely accessing platforms built for adults.
Governments are acting
The law is starting to catch up
Across the UK, Europe and beyond, regulators are moving to protect children online. A few of the most significant recent steps:
🇬🇧 United KingdomAnnounced Jun 2026
A ban on social media for under‑16s
On 15 June 2026 the UK government announced that platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook and X will have to stop under‑16s from holding accounts — a landmark move to protect children online. It will be enforced by Ofcom rather than parents, with extra protections switched on by default for 16–17 year‑olds, and is expected to be in force by early 2027.
From 10 December 2025, platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X and Reddit must take "reasonable steps" to stop under‑16s holding accounts — and parents cannot consent to opt their child back in. Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to A$50 million. There are no penalties for children or parents.
France has approved a law banning under‑15s from social media, requiring platforms to verify the age of all users — with age checks due to begin in January. It adds to a fast‑growing wave of European countries moving to keep younger children off social platforms.
Since 25 July 2025, sites and apps hosting adult or other harmful content must use "highly effective" age‑assurance to keep children out. The regulator, Ofcom, can fine companies up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover — whichever is greater — and has already issued fines to non‑compliant platforms.
Government guidance says schools in England should be mobile‑phone‑free by default, with Ofsted assessing how policies are applied. Alongside it, the Safer Phones Bill (introduced in 2024) set out to make smartphones less addictive for children and help families and teachers cut daily screen time.
Under the Digital Services Act, the European Commission has published guidelines to protect minors and released a privacy‑preserving age‑verification app, with pilots in Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain. In November 2025, the European Parliament voted to back a minimum age of 16 for social media across the bloc.
Legislation in this area is moving quickly. The summaries above are written in our own words and were accurate as of July 2026 — follow the links to each official source for the latest detail.
Where Tethar fits
The law is catching up. Your family shouldn't have to wait.
Legislation sets the floor — but it can't tailor a phone to your child, and much of it is still arriving. Tethar puts real, practical protection in your hands today: only the apps you approve, a filtered web, screen‑time boundaries you set, location awareness and clear reporting — on a phone that still looks and feels like theirs.
