In a move to address growing concerns over the impact of social media on young people, the UK government has announced plans to hold a consultation on implementing an Australian-style ban for under-16s. The consultation will explore options such as raising the digital age of consent and restricting potentially addictive app design features.
Ministers will visit Australia as part of the consultation process, where a similar social media ban for under-16s came into force in December. The government will seek views from parents and young people, with a response expected in the summer.
The announcement has been met with a mixed reaction, with some welcoming the move as a vital step in protecting children online, while others criticise it as more “dither and delay” from the government.
Lord Nash, a former schools minister who is tabling an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill, said the consultation represents only further delay, and that the Prime Minister must act urgently to address the “catastrophic harm” being done to a generation of children.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, has already stated that her party would introduce a ban for under-16s if elected. Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered by two other teenagers in 2023, has also voiced her support for a ban, saying it would be “a vital step in protecting children online”.
However, some education leaders have raised concerns about the potential unintended consequences of such a ban, and have called for the government to provide schools with the resources and support they need to effectively manage mobile phone use on school premises.
The government has also announced that it will be taking immediate action on children’s social media use, including directing Ofsted to examine schools’ mobile phone policies and how effectively they are implemented during inspections. It will also produce screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16.
As the debate continues, the government’s consultation will be closely watched by parents, educators, and child welfare advocates who are eager to see tangible action taken to protect young people from the potential harms of social media.