In a frank admission, Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, the schools watchdog, has revealed that he would have consulted on a social media ban for under-16s sooner, as the Government announces a three-month review into the issue.
Speaking at the Bett UK education technology conference, Sir Martyn welcomed the Government’s upcoming consultation, but acknowledged that it was “a little bit late”. He emphasised the urgent need to protect children’s childhoods, stating: “I want children to live their childhood. I don’t want them to watch it on a screen, and it’s really pervasive.”
The comments come as peers in the House of Lords are set to debate an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on Wednesday, which would raise the age limit for social media use to 16. The amendment has been co-sponsored by Labour, Liberal Democrat, and crossbench peers.
Former schools minister Lord Nash, who tabled the amendment, has warned that without “swift action to raise the age limit for social media to 16, we are at risk of a societal catastrophe”. The amendment is backed by a host of high-profile figures, including actor Hugh Grant and Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered in 2023.
The Government’s upcoming consultation will examine the advantages and disadvantages of a social media ban, as well as potential measures such as overnight curfews and steps to prevent “doom-scrolling”. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the review will “look at expert and international evidence to get this right”, including restrictions on age and addictive features, as well as screen time use by under-fives.
However, some campaigners have expressed concerns that a blanket ban may be a “blunt response” that fails to address the responsibility of tech companies in ensuring their platforms are safe for users. Girlguiding chief executive Felicity Oswald has also raised reservations, stating that “removing young people’s access will not rectify the root of the problem”.
As the debate continues, Sir Martyn Oliver’s call for swifter action underscores the urgency felt by many in the education sector to protect children from the potential harms of social media.
