Government Launches Consultation on New Online Safety Measures
The UK government is to launch a formal consultation to look at whether it is best to ban children aged less than 16 from using social media since there has been a growing concern about the detrimental effects on young minds to mental well-being, exposure to any form of abuse they might face, and the addictive tendencies of the most popular applications available on social media. This is a big move towards devising a new safety measure on an online front.
They say it needs to be evidence-led, and they are prepared to go to Australia to look at how the recent under-16 ban on social media is being implemented there.
Why the Proposal Has Gained Momentum
The welfare of children has been at the heart of the debate so far. Fears raised by parents, medical practitioners, teachers, and even children’s rights campaigners have constituted this debate so far. Parliamentarians have been echoing all these voices in the debate so far, with over 60 Labour politicians voting for a stronger rating for children accessing social media sites.
The House of Lords has shown a lot of interest by supporting an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that aims to bar children under the age of 16 from accessing social platforms a year after the bill is enacted, putting the government on a tight spot to make a move on the issue.
What the Consulting Government Wants to Study
The consultation focuses on a range of measures, not just a blanket ban:
- Age verification technologies to make sure users are at least the legal age
- Reducing addictive app features like endless scrolling and reward loops; increasing the digital age of consent from 13 to 16
- Evaluating reporting options and measures against hazardous information to protect children
Ministers stress that no decisions have been made yet and that before proceeding, they would like feedback from parents, educators, youth, clinicians, platform representatives, and civil society organizations.
What Australia’s Model Looks Like
Australia has set a precedent by becoming the first country worldwide to enforce a “blanket” social media ban across its borders, specifically among users under 16, in December 2025. The technology industry is expected to bear the consequences if it fails to implement such a ban.
Social media platforms such TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, and YouTube have reportedly deleted millions of accounts from children aged under 16 as a consequence.
The British government is also curious to know more about “how it actually works, how effective it is, and whether others can actually scale up for Britain’s market.”
Mental Health and Safety Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters of the consultation are of the opinion that the use of social media might result in anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, and exposure to harmful content, particularly for children and teens, and introducing stricter age limits might give parents a sense of security before their children reach the age of 16.
Many people are welcoming this decision by the government to look into this issue formally. Some parents feel that it was a positive move to consider their growing apprehensions regarding their children’s access to adult websites.
Opposition and Practical Challenges
However, not all voices promote the necessity of a ban. Some argue that if a restriction were put into place, children could resort to less regulated parts of the internet, which could negate some of the safe aspects of the restriction itself. In addition, technology inherent to age verification systems could promote privacy issues.
Politicians and digital rights proponents have warned against banning access to platforms as a possible solution for other problems faced on platforms, ranging from design-related addictions to data privacy and other unwholesome exposures.
Political Landscape and Next Steps
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated in response to the consultation process that “we keep no option off the table” in terms of protection for minors, yet it is important to note the extent to which it is also left to decision-makers as it is dependent on the outcome of the consultation feedback.
The consultation is expected to last for a few months, with a government response promised for the summer of 2026. If the government plans to propose any new laws, it would still need to be passed through Parliament to be made into law.
What Families and Young People Can Expect
Families can look out for opportunities to contribute to the consultation process and share their own experience. The school system, parents’ organizations, and young people’s organizations will most likely be part of the policy process.
Young people already using social media will certainly have a strong interest if they believe the changes might have a big influence on how they live their lives, as changes to how accounts and safety settings function might potentially occur as part of broader commitments on online safety prior to a ban.
