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The UK government has announced a consultation on the potential prohibition of social media access for individuals under the age of 16.
Accompanying the consultation, the government stated that “immediate action” would empower Ofsted to assess phone usage policies during school inspections, with the expectation that schools adopt a “phone-free by default” approach.
A similar ban was implemented in Australia in December 2025, marking a global precedent. Several other nations are reportedly contemplating similar legislation.
This development follows a letter to the prime minister from over 60 Labour MPs regarding the issue, with Brianna Ghey’s mother also urging government intervention after the teenager’s murder.
In a letter obtained by the BBC, Esther Ghey, Brianna’s mother, stated, “Some argue that vulnerable children need access to social media to find their community.”
“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 aims to “seek views from parents, young people and civil society” to evaluate the potential efficacy of a ban.
The consultation will also explore the feasibility of implementing more rigorous age verification measures by social media companies, potentially compelling them to remove or limit features “which drive compulsive use of social media.”
Furthermore, Ofsted will issue stricter guidance to schools regarding phone usage, including directives for staff to refrain from using personal devices in front of students.
The government’s response to the consultation is anticipated in the summer.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the Online Safety Act’s provisions were “never meant to be the end point” and acknowledged understanding that “parents still have serious concerns.”
“We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve,” she affirmed.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has previously stated that her party would introduce a social media ban for under-16s if elected.
She characterized the consultation as further “dither and delay” from the Labour Party.
“The prime minister is trying to copy an announcement that the Conservatives made a week ago, and still not getting it right,” she commented.
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson asserted that there was “no time to waste in protecting our children from social media giants” and that “this consultation risks kicking the can down the road yet again.”
National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede described the move as a “welcome shift.”
“Every day, parents and teachers see how social media shapes children’s identities and attention long before they sit their GCSEs, pulling them into isolating, endless loops of content,” he explained.
The Association of School and College Leaders also welcomed the consultation on social media, but noted the government had been “sluggish” in responding to the online risks posed to children.
The union’s general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio stated that there was “clearly a much wider problem of children and young people spending far too much time on screens and being exposed to inappropriate content.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, also expressed support for the plans to consult on a potential social media ban.
However, he deemed the suggestion that Ofsted should “police” phones in schools as “deeply unhelpful and misguided.”
“School leaders need support from government, not the threat of heavy-handed inspection,” he added.
This development coincides with increasing pressure on the government from the House of Lords, which is expected to vote on a proposed ban on Wednesday.
The amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has garnered support from prominent figures such as former children’s TV presenter Baroness Benjamin and former education minister Lord Nash.
There is also a separate amendment advocating for the introduction of film-style age ratings, which could restrict children’s access to social media applications.
Last week, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated that she would implement a ban on social media for under-16s if her party secures victory in the next election.
Professor Amy Orben, who leads the Digital Mental Health programme at the University of Cambridge’s MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, told the BBC that there was “broad agreement” more needed to be done to keep children safe online.
However, she cautioned that there was still “not strong evidence” indicating the effectiveness of age-based social media bans.
Dr. Holly Bear from Oxford University concurred, noting that evidence regarding the effects of a social media ban was “still unfolding.”
“A balanced approach might be trying to reduce algorithm-driven exposure to harmful content, improving safeguards, supporting digital literacy and carefully evaluating any major policy interventions,” she suggested.
The NSPCC, Childnet, and suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation, along with 39 other individuals and organizations, argued that a ban would constitute the “wrong solution” on Saturday.
“It would create a false sense of safety that would see children – but also the threats to them – migrate to other areas online,” the organizations wrote.
“Though well-intentioned, blanket bans on social media would fail to deliver the improvement in children’s safety and wellbeing that they so urgently need.”
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