Christopher BellThe UK government confirmed on 25 March 2026 that it would pilot social media restrictions for hundreds of teenagers, testing time limits, curfews, and app-level bans as part of its Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. A digital wellbeing consultation that closes on 26 May 2026 has already received nearly 30,000 responses from parents and children. TikTok — which is specifically named in parliamentary debates — is not being banned outright in the UK, but the regulatory landscape for social media platforms targeting young audiences is shifting rapidly, and businesses need to understand what comes next.
Where UK Law Stands on Under-16 Social Media Access
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently at the "ping pong" stage between the House of Commons and the House of Lords as of May 2026. This means the bill has passed its main readings but the two chambers are still negotiating the final wording of specific clauses, including those relating to children's social media access.
A blanket ban for under-16s is not the likely outcome. The more probable result is a strengthened legal duty on platforms to implement robust age assurance, enforce minimum age requirements, and limit algorithmic amplification of certain content to younger users. The Online Safety Act 2023 — already in force — already places these duties on regulated platforms, but the new legislation is expected to add teeth to enforcement.
For TikTok specifically, the platform has been rolling out enhanced age detection across Europe since January 2026, using facial age estimation, credit card authorisation, and government-approved identification to verify users under its minimum age of 13. The ICO has indicated it expects all social media platforms to demonstrate compliance with its Children's Code by mid-2026.
What Businesses Operating on TikTok Need to Know
If your business runs a TikTok presence, uses TikTok advertising, or relies on influencer marketing via TikTok, the pending regulatory changes create several compliance considerations that an IT or digital advisory consultant can help you navigate.
Age-gated advertising: If your TikTok ads reach users under 16, you are operating in a grey area even now. The ICO's Children's Code prohibits data-driven profiling of children for marketing purposes. A content or data audit of your TikTok campaigns should confirm that audience targeting parameters exclude minors and that no behavioural data from under-16 accounts is being used.
Influencer marketing and contract compliance: UK influencer marketing regulations already require clear labelling of paid partnerships. If a brand you work with uses a TikTok creator whose audience skews young, additional due diligence is required to confirm the creator is complying with UKGC, ASA, and Children's Code requirements. Contracts with creators should include representations and warranties about their audience demographics.
Platform dependency risk: Any business that generates significant revenue through TikTok should be conducting a platform dependency risk assessment. The UK government's pilot programme will produce data on usage restrictions that could inform future legislation that disrupts access for whole audience segments. Businesses with a plan to migrate audiences to owned channels — email lists, owned content platforms — are in a stronger position if platform restrictions tighten.
The ICO's Strengthened Enforcement Posture
The ICO is not waiting for new legislation to act. Its Children's Code guidance — which applies to any online service likely to be accessed by under-18s — already requires privacy-by-default settings for children, no nudge techniques, no profiling for marketing, and transparent data handling. The ICO fined TikTok £12.7 million in April 2023 for misusing children's data, and has since made clear that repeat failures will result in escalating penalties under its updated enforcement framework. Similar Online Safety Act obligations now apply to gaming platforms — as the PS5's mandatory age verification rollout under the Online Safety Act illustrates.
For UK-based app developers, SaaS platforms, e-commerce businesses, and content platforms, the immediate compliance question is whether your service is "likely to be accessed by under-18s." If the answer is possibly yes, then the Children's Code applies to you — not just to TikTok. An IT consultant or data protection specialist can perform a Legitimate Interest Assessment and review your consent and age-assurance processes against current ICO guidance.
TikTok Itself Is Not Going Away — But Its User Data Policies Remain Scrutinised
The UK government removed TikTok from government devices in March 2023 due to concerns about data access by ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company. This has not been extended to a public ban. The UK government has consistently taken a different approach from the US administration, preferring regulatory pressure over outright prohibition.
What does this mean for UK businesses? TikTok remains a live, significant channel with high engagement rates, particularly among the 18-34 demographic. The risk is not that TikTok disappears overnight. The risk is that new compliance requirements — on age verification, data processing, and content moderation — raise the cost and complexity of operating on the platform in ways that smaller businesses are not prepared for.
Practical Steps to Take Before the Consultation Closes
Before the government's digital wellbeing consultation closes on 26 May 2026, businesses with significant TikTok exposure should consider:
- Auditing TikTok advertising audiences and confirming no under-16 data is used
- Reviewing influencer contracts for Children's Code and ASA compliance
- Conducting a platform dependency risk review with a digital strategy or IT consultant
- Checking whether your website or app triggers Children's Code obligations
- Subscribing to ICO enforcement updates to stay current with guidance
ExpertZoom connects UK businesses with IT compliance consultants and data protection specialists who can provide a practical assessment of your current exposure and what changes are needed before legislation tightens further.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Consult a qualified specialist for guidance specific to your organisation.
