As the debate over social media’s impact on young people intensifies, the UK government is actively exploring measures to better protect children online. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out banning British under-16s from accessing social media platforms, stating that “all options are on the table.”
Starmer’s comments come as the House of Lords prepares to vote next week on proposals for a nationwide social media ban for minors. The Conservative Party has also announced plans to block under-16s from using social media and prohibit smartphone use in schools if they win the next election.
Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch has argued that “addictive” social media apps “correlate quite strongly” with a rise in mental health issues among young people. Labour Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has also expressed support for Badenoch’s stance on social media use.
The potential crackdown on underage social media access follows recent developments in Australia, where Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) has already blocked around 550,000 accounts in compliance with the country’s new legislation.
Starmer acknowledged the need to “better protect children from social media,” stating that the government is closely monitoring the situation in Australia. He did not rule out measures such as banning under-16s from social media or restricting screen time for children under five.
The issue is expected to come to a head next week, as the House of Lords is set to vote on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would prevent under-16s from accessing social media. The amendment is jointly sponsored by Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and independent peers.
While some Labour MPs and officials have privately expressed frustration that the Conservatives have taken the lead on this issue, there appears to be growing cross-party support for stronger measures to protect children online. The government has also indicated that it is considering the findings of a review into smartphones and social media, which is expected to be published in due course.
The debate over social media’s impact on young people’s mental health and wellbeing continues to be a pressing concern for policymakers. As the UK government weighs its options, the outcome of the upcoming House of Lords vote and any subsequent actions could have significant implications for the future of social media access for minors in the country.