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The Conservative Party has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms if they come into power. They intend to follow Australia’s example, being the first country to implement such a policy. In addition, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch revealed that smartphones would be banned in schools under their proposed government. This move comes one month after Australia’s enforcement of its ban on under-16s using major social media sites.
According to the Conservatives, their goal is to safeguard children’s mental health and education by preventing exposure to harmful online content. The party expects platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat to adopt age verification technology to block users under 16. Badenoch emphasized that the age restriction aims to protect children while still respecting adults’ freedom to use these platforms. Furthermore, the NASUWT teachers’ union has also advocated for a similar ban after consulting with its members. Currently, the government has not endorsed this idea but states it is committed to ensuring children access age-appropriate material online.
Since July of last year, social media platforms have been legally obligated to shield young users from harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and pornography under the Online Safety Act. The regulations are enforced by Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator. Companies that fail to comply risk financial penalties, imprisonment, or even being banned from operating in the country in the most severe cases.
Looking ahead, the government plans to issue new guidance this spring on screen time limits for children under five. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted that approximately 98% of children are exposed to screens daily by the age of two, with studies linking excessive use to poorer language development. A national working group, led by children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Professor Russell Viner, will oversee the creation of this guidance. Parents, children, and early years practitioners will all contribute to the final recommendations, which are set to be published in April. Phillipson assured that the guidance would be developed with parental input rather than being imposed upon them
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