UK Moves Toward Social Media Ban for Under-16s
January 20 2026
The United Kingdom government has launched a formal consultation on whether to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media use by children under the age of 16, marking a significant escalation in policy efforts to address online harms facing young people.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced the consultation on Monday, saying ministers will examine a range of options including setting a legal minimum age for social media access, strengthening age-verification systems, and curbing platform features associated with addictive use such as infinite scrolling. The review will collect evidence from parents, young people, civil society groups and tech companies, and is expected to inform government proposals by summer 2026.
The move follows growing pressure from across the political spectrum. More than 60 Labour MPs have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging stricter limits on youth social media access, arguing that existing safeguards have failed to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.
One driving force behind the renewed debate has been Australia’s recent implementation of a nationwide ban on social media for under-16s, which came into effect in December 2025 and has led platforms to deactivate or restrict an estimated 4.7 million youth accounts. UK ministers are expected to study the Australian model directly as part of their consultation process.
Proponents of a ban echo long-standing concerns about the impact of social platforms on children’s mental health, behaviour and wellbeing. A parliamentary e-petition calling for a minimum social media age of 16 gathered more than 127,000 signatures, with supporters citing risks including exposure to inappropriate content and
House of Commons Library
However, the proposals are not without controversy. Digital rights advocates warn that blanket age bans could create privacy and enforcement challenges, requiring extensive age-verification measures that may compromise data protection and inadvertently push children towards less regulated corners of the internet.
Child welfare organisations have broadly welcomed the consultation but emphasise that any policy must be evidence-based and part of a broader strategy to promote safer online environments. The Royal College of General Practitioners highlighted rising concerns in clinical settings about the effects of digital engagement on children’s mental and physical health, advocating for systemic change rather than isolated restrictions.
The consultation arrives as the government continues to enforce the Online Safety Act, which already mandates robust age checks to limit access to harmful content. Officials stress that the current review should complement, not replace, existing protections and reflect the latest evidence on digital risk and resilience among young users.
Under the UK’s Online Safety Act which came into force in mid-2025 platforms must implement stringent age assurance and content moderation practices to protect under-18s from harmful material including pornography, self-harm and hate speech.
The consultation process will run over the coming months, with findings likely to shape future legislative proposals and potentially significant changes in how children in the UK engage with social media. Decisions may also influence broader international discussions on youth digital rights and platform regulation.
Sources: BBC, Reuters, AP News, The Guardian.
