The United Kingdom is considering introducing a ban on social media for kids under the age of 16, The Telegraph reported. This follows legislation already implemented in Australia, where children below 16 are barred from using major social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The Australian law was introduced with the aim of protecting children from online harms and the dangers of the Internet.
Although UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly expressed opposition to a blanket ban for kids under 16, the report said that he is closely monitoring the Australian policy. The Telegraph added that the UK government could consider introducing similar legislation if the Australian approach proves effective. Discussions on the matter are reportedly underway between Sir Keir and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.
‘Government closely monitoring Australia’s approach’
A government spokesperson, per The Telegraph report, acknowledged growing parental concerns about children’s online safety, adding, “We understand parents’ concerns about the impact of social media on children, which is why we’ve taken some of the boldest steps globally to ensure online content is genuinely age-appropriate.”
The spokesperson further talked about the balance between the two – protecting children while letting them benefit safely from the Internet. “…without cutting off essential services or isolating the most vulnerable,” the spokesperson said, before adding, “The Government is closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions. When it comes to children’s safety, nothing is off the table, but any action must be based on robust evidence.”
Petition calls for minimum age of 16
A petition was also filed on the official website of the UK Parliament to “Introduce 16 as the minimum age for children to have social media”. Although the petition has since closed, it received more than one lakh signatures.
The petition aimed to put an end to online bullying, prevent children from being influenced by misleading or false posts, and stop them from viewing content that encourages violence or could harm their future.
Those who signed the petition argued that social media has a negative impact on children’s mental and emotional well-being. “We think people should be of an age where they can make decisions about their lives before accessing social media applications.”
When Australia first introduced its law, Prime Minister Starmer had “personally” objected to the idea, arguing that a blanket ban was unnecessary. “I think it’s more about how you control the content children can see,” the PM said at the time.
UK should consider more radical approaches
However, some senior government figures have suggested the UK should consider more radical approaches. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that the era of the Internet in which children are growing up today is starkly different from when he was a teenager. “Nowadays, kids are able to access the most extreme content,” he was quoted by The Telegraph as saying.
Streeting, per the news report, also thinks that social media has increasingly become “anti-social media” and said that Australia’s experience should be closely studied. “That’s why I think what Australia’s doing is interesting and we should follow the results closely and see if that’s something we should consider doing here.”
According to sources cited by The Telegraph, some experts have warned that a ban could drive children towards unregulated or more dangerous online platforms. One expert suggested the government should take a more “grown-up” and nuanced approach to the issue.
Kendall worried about AI chatbots
Kendall, who supports an evidence-based approach, has also opposed the idea of placing a ban on children under 16 owning a cell phone. She, per the Telegraph report, added that it is “really important balance to be struck” between helping children deal with the online world and not exposing them to harmful content.
Kendall said her concerns extend beyond social media alone. “I am worried about chatbots, and I am worried about sleep. If you said, ‘nothing until you are 16’, then how are they going to cope? That is how I am thinking about it,” she was further quoted by the Telegraph as saying.
What the UK government said in December 2024
In December 2024, the UK government acknowledged that it is aware of the ongoing debate around banning social media and smartphones for children below a certain age. However, it made clear that it was not currently inclined to support such a ban. “The government is not currently minded to support a ban for children under 16,” it said in response to the demand for a ban.
It continued, “Social media platforms, other user-to-user services and search services that are likely to be accessed by children will have a duty to take steps to prevent children from encountering the most harmful content that has been designated as ‘primary priority’ content. This includes pornography and content that encourages, promotes, or provides instructions for self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide. Online services must also put in place age-appropriate measures to protect children from ‘priority’ content that is harmful to children, including bullying, abusive or hateful content and content that encourages or depicts serious violence.”
“Under the Act, where services have minimum age limits, they must specify how these are enforced and do so consistently. Ofcom’s draft proposals would mean that user-to-user services which do not ban primary priority or priority harmful content should introduce highly effective age checks to prevent children from accessing the entire site or app, or age-restrict areas of the service hosting such harmful content,” it further stated.
