UK to consult on social media ban for under 16s

"The government will consult on whether social media should be banned for under-16s in the UK. It said "immediate action" would give Ofsted the power to check policies on phone use when it inspects schools, and it expected schools to be "phone-free by default" as a result of the announcement. A similar ban took effect in Australia in December 2025, the first of its kind in the world. Other countries are said to be considering such a law."

""Some argue that vulnerable children need access to social media to find their community," Brianna's mother Esther Ghey wrote in a letter seen by the BBC. "As the parent of an extremely vulnerable and trans child, I strongly disagree. "In Brianna's case, social media limited her ability to engage in real-world social interactions. She had real friends, but she chose to live online instead.""

"According to The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, the consultation will "seek views from parents, young people and civil society" to determine the effectiveness of a ban. It would also look at whether more robust age checks could be implemented by social media firms, which could be forced to remove or limit features "which drive compulsive use of social media". And Ofsted will give tougher guidance to schools to reduce phone use - including telling staff not to use their devices for personal reasons in front of pupils."

The UK government will consult on banning social media for under-16s and seek views from parents, young people and civil society. The consultation will examine whether more robust age checks can be implemented and whether social media firms should be forced to remove or limit features that drive compulsive use. Ofsted will gain the power to check phone-use policies during inspections and will issue tougher guidance to reduce phone use in schools. Guidance expects schools to be phone-free by default and asks staff not to use personal devices in front of pupils. A similar ban began in Australia in December 2025. The government will respond to the consultation in the summer.

Read at www.bbc.com