Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a ban on social media for under-16s, as police records show TikTok-related crimes in Salford have more than doubled over a 12-month period.
TikTok will be one of the social media apps to fall under the ban, which is expected to come into force by spring 2027.
It follows a consultation that received more than 116,000 responses from parents, children and experts and found that 9 in 10 parents would support a social media ban.
The ban will include some of the most popular social media apps, but will exempt educational services, e-commerce platforms or music streaming.
Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, X and Facebook will also fall under the new restriction.
The government move comes after Greater Manchester Police investigated 168 offences connected to the popular social video app in the city in 2025.
The number of TikTok-related crime investigations in Salford rose by 110 per cent compared with the previous year.
New figures, obtained by personal injury solicitors JF Law via Freedom of Information requests to Greater Manchester Police, show that more than 90 children were targeted in incidents tied to the video-sharing app across the force area between 2023 and 2025 across the force area.
TikTok was mentioned in the crime reports of 3,643 offences across Greater Manchester over the three years.
While the popular video-sharing platform is mentioned in each crime report, it does not necessarily mean the app caused the offences – rather that it was relevant to the context.
32 rapes were linked to the app over three years, jumping drastically from three in 2023 to 19 the following year.
Alongside rapes, other sexual offences surged from 24 cases in 2023 to 108 by 2025. This equates to a total of 185 other sexual crimes recorded across the timeframe.
Concerningly, primary-aged children under ten were targeted in three cases, while those aged between 10 and 17 suffered 88 documented offences.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said they are continuing to educate parents, carers, and children on how to keep safe online as technology advances and access to internet-enabled devices grows.
They added that anybody who thinks they may have been a victim of crime through social media can contact Greater Manchester Police at any time to report their concerns.
The force promised to provide support, conduct thorough investigations, and take firm action against offenders, assuring victims that allegations will be taken seriously and treated with dignity and respect.
“The sheer volume of these cases is a stark warning to parents and authorities alike,” said Ellie Lamey, a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) specialist at JF Law.
“We are seeing everyday platforms being weaponised by predators to target our youngest and most vulnerable, turning what should be a harmless online space into a digital hunting ground.
“The trauma inflicted by cyber-stalking, harassment, and online-facilitated abuse has profound, real-world consequences that can completely shatter a family’s sense of security.”
She added: “It is crucial that victims know there are concrete legal avenues available to fight back. Nobody should have to navigate this nightmare in silence, and we are committed to helping survivors secure the protection, justice, and support they need to move forward.”
TikTok’s Safety and Civility community guidelines state: “We do not allow any violent threats, promotion of violence, incitement to violence, or promotion of criminal activities that may harm people, animals, or property.
“If there is a specific, credible, and imminent threat to human life or serious physical injury, we report it to relevant law enforcement authorities.”
