UK Considers Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 Amid Safety Concerns

The UK government is actively considering proposals to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. This significant potential policy shift follows mounting pressure to enhance children’s online safety and address the mental health risks associated with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The discussion is partly driven by high-profile advocacy, including from the mother of Brianna Ghey, who has called for stronger action to protect young people from online harms, violence, and harmful algorithm-driven content.

Central to the debate is the enforcement of the Online Safety Act and the role of the regulator, Ofcom. Proposals being reviewed include stricter age verification requirements and a broader digital duty of care for tech companies to prevent under-age access and shield young users from bullying, grooming, and self-harm content. The government faces the complex task of balancing child protection with concerns over free speech and practical enforcement. The move signals a growing political consensus on the need for more robust intervention in tech regulation, highlighting a shift towards holding social media companies accountable for their platforms' impact on teenagers and the effectiveness of their parental controls. This review represents a major potential development in UK online safety laws and the global conversation on protecting children in the digital age.