The UK government is launching a consultation on banning children under 16 from social media, following mounting pressure from backbench lawmakers and bereaved parents concerned about online harms to young people. The move marks a significant shift in policy, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer stating that “no option is off the table” regarding restrictions on social media access for teenagers.
What the UK Consultation Will Examine
The consultation will explore several key measures to protect children online, including determining the right minimum age for children to access social media and exploring a ban for children under a certain age. The government will also investigate age assurance technology improvements, the effectiveness of restricting addictive design features like infinite scrolling and social media streaks, and whether the current digital age of consent is too low.
The initiative follows Australia’s implementation of a social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, which covers major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. British government ministers plan to visit Australia to study the ban’s effects and enforcement challenges.
Schools to Become Phone-Free Zones
Beyond social media restrictions, the government is strengthening mobile phone policies in schools. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced tougher guidance making it clearer that mobile phones should not be used during lessons, break times, lunch times, or between lessons. While the government will not legislate an outright ban, Ofsted inspectors will now examine individual schools’ policies on mobile phones and how effectively they are implemented when judging behaviour during inspections.
Political Context and Support
The announcement comes after more than 60 Labour MPs and Conservative opposition pressure the government to introduce stronger protections. Notably, Starmer had initially opposed a blanket ban, but his position softened following campaign pressure and a House of Lords amendment vote on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Bereaved parents, including Esther Ghey whose daughter Brianna was murdered, have written to the prime minister urging support for age restrictions on social media. The NSPCC has also welcomed the consultation, stating that technology companies “have prioritised profit over children’s safety.”
Next Steps
If passed, the social media ban would be enacted within a year. The government plans to conduct a nationwide consultation with parents, young people, and other stakeholders to inform the final policy framework.