More than three months have passed since the UK launched a large-scale consultation on a potential social media ban for under-16s. The consultation, which opened in early March, drew widespread support from campaigners and politicians, with the House of Lords pushing for action. It closed on May 27, and the government is expected to respond within weeks.
Government Signals Support for a Ban
Ministers, including Science and Tech Secretary Liz Kendall, have hinted that some form of ban is likely. Kendall told the Sunday Mirror that blocking under-16s from social media is 'definitely on the table,' noting that nine in 10 parents who responded to the consultation supported the move. She stated: 'We haven't yet made up our mind, but I think it's quite clear that something drastic has to happen to provide the kind of support that parents want.'
Potential Exemptions
However, not all platforms may be affected. According to The Sun on Sunday, the YouTube Kids app would likely be exempt, aligning the UK with Australia's ban introduced in December 2024. Australia does not restrict under-16s from using YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, Facebook Messenger, Pinterest, Discord, Steam, or WhatsApp. Instead, it targets ten major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube.
A Department of Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on speculation about future announcements. We've been clear we are determined to act quickly, but we will do so in a way that is effective, enforceable and genuinely keeps children safe. As we've previously said, we will set out the government's response by the summer, and importantly we already have the powers to act within months rather than years.'
Public Response and Opposition
Over 100,000 people responded to the consultation, including around 40,000 parents. Kendall noted that the strong support 'shows how strongly parents feel.' However, not everyone backs a ban. Scotland's children's commissioner Nicola Killean wrote that evidence on bans is 'limited, mixed, and still emerging,' adding: 'Blanket restrictions can risk shifting responsibility away from platforms and onto children.'
In January, Professor Kathy Modecki, who leads research on Australia's ban, urged the UK to wait for stronger evidence. She told Metro: 'It would be premature for other areas or countries to follow suit without yet accessing data regarding this national experiment.'
