The UK government has launched a consultation on whether social media should be banned for children under 16, alongside steps to strengthen oversight of mobile phone use in schools, as pressure mounts from lawmakers, parents, and campaigners to address online harms affecting young people.
Consultation Scope And Timeline
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the consultation will gather views from parents, young people, and civil society on the effectiveness of an age-based ban. It will also examine whether social media companies should be required to implement more robust age checks and whether features that encourage compulsive use should be limited or removed.
The government said it will respond to the consultation in the summer.
Schools And Ofsted Oversight
As part of what ministers described as immediate action, Ofsted will be given powers to assess school policies on phone use during inspections. The government said it expects schools to be phone-free by default following the announcement.
Guidance will also advise staff not to use personal devices in front of pupils, as part of a broader effort to reduce screen use during the school day.
International Context And Political Pressure
A similar under-16 social media ban came into force in Australia in December 2025, the first of its kind worldwide. Other countries are reported to be considering comparable measures.
The UK move follows a letter from more than 60 Labour MPs urging action. Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, also called on the government to intervene. In a letter seen by the BBC, she said social media can limit real-world interaction for vulnerable children and disagreed with arguments that access helps them find community.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the Online Safety Act was never intended to be the final word on child protection and acknowledged continuing parental concerns. She said the government aims to ensure technology benefits children rather than causing harm.
Party Positions And Parliamentary Developments
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would introduce a ban for under-16s if in power and criticised the consultation as delay. Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson said the process risks postponing action at a time when children need protection.
The government also faces pressure from the House of Lords, which is expected to vote on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on Wednesday. The proposal has backing from figures including Baroness Benjamin and former education minister Lord Nash. A separate amendment calls for film-style age ratings to limit which social media apps children can access.
Education Sector Responses
Teaching unions broadly welcomed the consultation while criticising the pace of the government’s response. National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede described the move as a shift that reflects concerns about social media’s effect on children’s attention and identity.
The Association of School and College Leaders supported the review but said the response to online risks had been slow. National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Paul Whiteman welcomed consultation on a potential ban but said asking Ofsted to police phones would be unhelpful and risk heavy-handed inspections.
Evidence And Expert Views
Researchers cautioned that evidence on age-based bans remains limited. Professor Amy Orben of the University of Cambridge said there is broad agreement that more needs to be done to keep children safe online but said there is not strong evidence that bans are effective. Dr Holly Bear of Oxford University said the evidence is still developing and suggested focusing on reducing harmful algorithmic exposure, improving safeguards, and strengthening digital literacy.
Charity Concerns
Child safety organisations including the NSPCC, Childnet, and the Molly Rose Foundation were among 42 groups that argued a blanket ban would be the wrong solution. In a joint statement, they said such measures could create a false sense of safety and push risks to other parts of the internet without delivering meaningful improvements to children’s wellbeing.
Featured image credits: Pexels
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