UK Government to Consult on Social Media Ban for Under-16s

The UK government announced it will launch a consultation on a potential ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16. The move follows growing concerns from parents, members of Parliament, and advocates regarding the impact of social media on young people.

The consultation was prompted by a letter to the prime minister from more than 60 Labour MPs, as well as calls for action from the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey. Supporters of the ban argue that it is necessary to protect vulnerable children and limit compulsive social media use.

According to government statements, "immediate action" will be taken to empower Ofsted, the UK's education watchdog, to assess school policies on phone usage during inspections. The government expects schools to adopt a "phone-free by default" approach as a result of this guidance.

The consultation will also explore stricter age verification measures for social media platforms. The government anticipates a response to the consultation in the summer.

The UK's consideration of a social media ban follows a similar measure implemented in Australia in December 2025, the first of its kind globally. Several other countries are reportedly considering similar legislation.