In a move that has sparked both praise and criticism, the UK government has announced plans to consult on a potential ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. The proposal, which aims to address concerns over the impact of social media on young people’s wellbeing, has generated a heated debate within the country.
The consultation, led by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, will seek input from parents, young people, and civil society to assess the effectiveness of such a ban. It will also explore the possibility of implementing more robust age checks by social media companies, potentially forcing them to remove or limit features that drive compulsive social media use.
The announcement comes after more than 60 Labour MPs wrote to the Prime Minister about the issue, with the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey also calling on the government to take action. Esther Ghey, Brianna’s mother, argued that social media had limited her daughter’s ability to engage in real-world social interactions, leading her to choose to “live online instead.”
The government’s move has received a mixed response, with some welcoming it as a necessary step to protect children, while others expressing concerns about the potential unintended consequences. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has already stated that her party would introduce a social media ban for under-16s if elected, calling the consultation “more dither and delay” from the Labour government.
However, not everyone is convinced that a blanket ban is the right solution. Professors Amy Orben and Holly Bear from the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, respectively, have argued that there is still not strong evidence that age-based social media bans are effective. They suggest a more balanced approach, focusing on reducing algorithm-driven exposure to harmful content, improving safeguards, and supporting digital literacy.
The National Education Union (NEU) and the Association of School and College Leaders have welcomed the consultation, but some, like the National Association of Head Teachers, have criticized the suggestion that Ofsted should “police” phone use in schools, calling it “deeply unhelpful and misguided.”
The debate over the potential social media ban for under-16s is set to continue, with the House of Lords expected to vote on a proposed amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill this week. As the government navigates this complex issue, it will need to balance the need to protect children with the potential unintended consequences of such a policy.
