Nigel Farage says UK's teen social media ban is 'unlikely to work' — but will VPNs really help children get around the restrictions? | Tech Radar
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Nigel Farage says UK's teen social media ban is 'unlikely to work' — but will VPNs really help children get around the restrictions?
The UK government has announced a social media ban for under-16s
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Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, says the UK's teen social media ban is "unlikely to work" due to VPN use
Social media providers are expected to prevent under-16s in the UK from using their platforms
While digital rights experts say circumvention is easy, the UK Prime Minister insists the ban is enforceable
Nigel Farage said the government's plan to ban under-16s from social media platforms is "unlikely to work" due to the "mass adoption of VPNs."
Following the British Prime Minister's announcement, the leader of Reform UK took to X to express his skepticism, adding that while "well-intentioned," the ban will lead to "the introduction of Digital ID via the back door."
VPN services are security tools that millions of Brits use on a daily basis to secure their internet connection and improve their digital privacy. However, as they can allow people to change their IP address and spoof their location, they can also be used to evade mandatory age checks.
Whilst the social media ban is well-intentioned, it’s unlikely to work given the mass adoption of VPNs. It will also mean the introduction of Digital ID via the back door. The real answer here is handsets for children with limited features. June 15, 2026
Whilst the social media ban is well-intentioned, it’s unlikely to work given the mass adoption of VPNs. It will also mean the introduction of Digital ID via the back door. The real answer here is handsets for children with limited features. June 15, 2026
When asked whether children may use VPNs to bypass restrictions, Keir Starmer told reporters that authorities "can enforce" the ban.
"I'm not prepared to say that because some children may try to get around it — and some may get around it — that is not a good reason to take the act of banning. I just don't accept that," he said.
UK bans social media ban for under-16s — all the latest news live
The UK Government's new social media rules for under-16s are coming soon
VPNs are not a 'threat' — industry hopes for an evidence-based outcome to UK online safety consultation
Snapchat, Tik Tok, You Tube, X, Instagram, Facebook, and gaming platforms operating in the UK will soon need to prevent access to all under-16 users. It is expected to come into effect in spring 2027.
The ban specifically targets "user-to-user platforms" that enable public social interaction, with messaging services like Whats App and Signal excluded from the bill.
Building on the Australian model, the UK government promises to "go further than a blanket ban." As per the official announcement, the rules will include blocks on some harmful functions, such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children under-16s.
Lawmakers are also looking into potential curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s, with more details expected in July.
It's not clear how platforms are expected to enforce these requirements, but the announcement suggests that mandatory age verification checks could be strengthened.
Nym VPN's latest update brings crucial anti-censorship and usability boost
Canada is the latest country to move to ban social media for under-16s
From essential security tools to restricted circumvention software: The EU signals that VPNs are the next target following the release of its age verification app
Whether a virtual private network (VPN) or similar tool could help children bypass the new rules will depend on how social media providers decide to implement age checks. This means that VPNs may work with some services and not with others.
VPNs could be used to mask people's location and make tech platforms think a user is based outside the UK. However, this is unlikely to work if checks are carried out at the App Store or device level.
Social media platforms are likely to know where their users are based due to someone's past activity. Additionally, platforms could work out a user's true location using a variety of different techniques, including network and SIM card data, and in-app GPS tracking.
However, there may still be other ways to circumvent the restrictions.
According to James Baker, Platform Power and Freedom of Expression Programme Manager at Open Rights Group, there are a "host of ways" a young person could circumvent a ban that don’t require a VPN connection.
He told Tech Radar: "Evidence from Australia showed that many young people circumvented age checks by tricking the facial age estimation, or borrowing identity documents."
As more details become available, we will have a better understanding of how the ban will work in practice and any potential workarounds.
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Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life – wherever cybersecurity, markets, and politics tangle up. She believes an open, uncensored, and private internet is a basic human need and wants to use her knowledge of VPNs to help readers take back control. She writes news, interviews, and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, tech policies, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for Tech Radar and Tech Radar Pro. Got a story, tip-off, or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com
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