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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that the possibility of banning social media access for British children under the age of 16 remains under active consideration, emphasizing that “all options are on the table.” He stressed the need for increased measures to protect young people from potential harms linked to social media, noting that the UK government is closely observing developments in Australia, where such a ban has recently been implemented. Behind the scenes, several Labour MPs and party officials anticipate that the UK might adopt a similar approach in the near future. This topic is gaining momentum as the House of Lords prepares to vote on proposed legislation that, if approved, could intensify pressure on the government to make a definitive decision.
Last week, the Conservative Party shared its intention to prohibit social media usage by under-16s and ban smartphones from schools should they win the next election. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch argued that “addictive” social media applications are strongly linked to the rising mental health issues among young people. In agreement, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham expressed support for many of Badenoch’s points concerning social media usage. Additionally, Meta recently reported that it had blocked approximately 500,000 accounts across platforms such as Facebook and Instagram within the first week of complying with Australia’s new social media restrictions. When asked about supporting a similar ban in the UK, Sir Keir remarked on the importance of safeguarding children, also raising concerns about screen time for very young children, particularly those under five years old. He highlighted that it is increasingly common to find children as young as four entering school having spent excessive amounts of time in front of screens.
There has been some internal frustration within Labour about how Conservative figures like Badenoch, alongside Burnham, have taken a lead role in the public debate on social media regulation ahead of the government’s official stance. One senior government source remarked, “It’s where we will inevitably end up. It’s what the public and parents want. I don’t know what’s keeping us so long.” This issue may reach a critical turning point when the House of Lords votes on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which aims to ban social media access for under-16s. The amendment, introduced by Conservative former education minister Lord Nash and supported by peers from various parties and professions, including Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat), Labour’s Baroness Berger, and independent paediatrician Baroness Cass, enjoys optimistic predictions for passage. If successful in the Lords, this will require a binding vote in the House of Commons in the coming months.
Meanwhile, concerns remain over the broader challenges social media poses to children and young people. Labour MP Wes Streeting, speaking on BBC Radio 4, acknowledged the potential benefits of social media, describing it as a means to foster “greater connections and a sense of belonging,” but also underlined serious risks including exposure to harmful material such as pornography, grooming, and violent extremism. He drew an analogy to traditional skills, noting that while learning to use tools like hammers and saws is valuable, leaving young children unsupervised with such tools would be unthinkable. He compared this to the current situation where young children are often left alone with mobile phones, suggesting a need for more cautious and structured approaches to technology use among youth. In contrast, the Molly Rose Foundation, which focuses on suicide prevention, warned that outright bans might have unintended consequences, potentially pushing harmful behaviors into unregulated spaces rather than encouraging safer product design. Its chief executive, Andy Burrows, called for the government to respond with evidence-based policies rather than simplistic bans, urging the publication of a long-awaited government review on smartphones and social media to guide meaningful action.
The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has indicated that this review will be released “in due course,” with officials stating that policy development will continue to be informed by the best available evidence, reflecting a firm commitment to online child safety. Under the existing Online Safety Act, technology companies must block young users from accessing harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and pornography. Companies failing to comply face penalties including fines, imprisonment, or even a UK ban. Some platforms have already implemented age-based restrictions; for example, Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old. Meta offers Teen Accounts on Facebook and Instagram, enabling parents to set safety controls and time limits. The company also employs features that automatically blur explicit images and block offensive messages sent to teen users, reinforcing efforts to create a safer online environment for young people
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