WhatsApp has introduced a ban on millions of UK users that will stop them using the world's most popular chat app.

The Facebook-owned service will now stop anyone under 16 from using the application in order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Coming into force last Friday, the GDPR requires special measures to be in place for the processing of personal data belonging to a child.

As such, WhatsApp has introduced a minimum age requirement meaning anyone under the age of 16 will need to have parental or guardian consent in order to use it.

The company said that the new update meant it could "meet the new high standards of transparency for how we protect the privacy of our users".

Any WhatsApp user that didn't verify their age before the GDPR kicked into force on Friday, May 25, will now have to do so in order to continue to use the popular chat app.

Similarly, WhatsApp says it will be introducing a feature that will let users download a copy of all the data that WhatsApp has on them - which is another requirement of GDPR.

"Our goal is simply to explain how we use and protect the limited information we have about you,” WhatsApp said.