In a move to address the growing concerns over the impact of social media on young people, the UK government has launched a consultation on whether to implement a ban on social media use for those under the age of 16. This comes as peers prepare to vote on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would enact such a ban within a year of the bill’s passing.
The announcement, made by Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, is part of a broader package of measures aimed at curbing mobile phone use among young people. The consultation will explore a range of options, including the introduction of a social media age limit, enforcing such limits, preventing technology companies from accessing young users’ data, and limiting addictive features like “infinite scrolling.”
The government’s decision to explore these measures comes amid mounting pressure from various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, medical professionals, and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. Esther Ghey, the mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, has added her voice to the call for a ban, citing the detrimental impact of social media on her daughter’s mental health and wellbeing.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed openness to the idea of a ban, but has indicated that he wants to wait for more evidence from Australia, where a similar ban was enacted in December 2025, before making a final decision.
Lord Nash, a Conservative peer, has proposed an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would set the age limit for social media at 16. Several Labour peers are expected to support this amendment, and 61 Labour MPs have also written to Starmer expressing their support for the measure.
The government’s announcement has been met with mixed reactions. While some welcome the move as a step in the right direction, others, like Lord Nash, believe the consultation does not go far enough and have vowed to push ahead with their amendment.
As the debate continues, the government faces the challenge of striking a balance between protecting young people’s wellbeing and ensuring their right to access digital platforms. The outcome of the consultation and the upcoming vote in the House of Lords will have far-reaching implications for the future of social media use among the UK’s youth.
