UK Government to consult on social media ban for under-16s

The UK Government is considering an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s. 

The proposed measure is part of a consultation, which it says is intended to protect “young people’s wellbeing”. 

The government is also exploring raising the age of digital consent and restricting features on apps designed to hold user engagement, such as “streaks” and “infinite scrolling”.  

It follows the recently enacted policy by the Australian Government to ban social media for young people. 

Experts and children's charities have warned against a ban; others have strongly backed the proposals.  

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. 

The government will also publish guidance for parents of children aged five to 16 on screen time.  

Ministers are expected to travel to Australia as part of the consultation process.  

The government will respond to the consultation in the summer. 

Technology secretary Liz Kendall said the Online Safety Act was “never meant to be the end point”, adding that she understands “parents still have serious concerns”. 

She said: “We are determined to ensure technology enriches children's lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve.” 

It comes as members of the House of Lords will vote on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would require social media companies to restrict under-16s within a year of the bill passing. 

Lord Nash, former schools minister under David Cameron and Theresa May, who has tabled the amendment, said the consultation is a further delay to calls from parents, teachers, and other experts. 

He said: “This announcement offers nothing for the hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers, medical professionals, senior police officers, national security experts and parliamentarians of all parties who have been calling for a raising of the age limit for social media. 

“The prime minister must be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this. The longer we delay, the more children we fail. 

“I continue to urge all peers to back my amendment on Wednesday, which would begin to end the catastrophic harm being done to a generation.”