Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has announced a major policy pledge to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms if the Tories return to power.
Protection for Children, Freedom for Adults
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Badenoch framed the proposal as a matter of "common sense", aiming to deliver "protection for children and freedom for adults". She argued that social media companies profit from the "anxiety" and "distraction" of young users, describing the platforms as "designed to be addictive".
The Tory leader, a mother-of-three, acknowledged that age limits would not be a perfect solution but stated they would remove a "critical mass" of children from an online environment she likened to a "wild west". She connected rising rates of depression, anxiety, and mental health issues among youth to social media use, suggesting it was part of a wider societal problem affecting even graduates' entry into the workforce.
Growing Pressure for Legislative Action
The announcement follows significant pressure from teaching unions for government intervention. The NASUWT teachers' union has called for legislation to force big tech firms to bar children from their platforms. Their own research underscores the scale of the issue in schools.
In a 2025 survey of 5,800 teacher members, an overwhelming 81% reported an increase in pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviour. Nearly three in five (59%) believed social media was a key driver behind this deteriorating behaviour. In a separate poll, 89% of NASUWT members supported a statutory ban for under-16s.
This call for action finds an international precedent, as a social media ban for under-16s came into force in Australia in December of last year.
Cross-Party Support and Government Stance
In a notable moment of political alignment, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, responded positively to Badenoch's comments on social media platform X. He wrote that he agreed with "a lot" of what she said and suggested parents would welcome a cross-party consensus on bolder action.
The current Government, responding to the ongoing debate, highlighted existing measures. A spokesperson pointed to the Online Safety Act as one of the "boldest steps anywhere in the world" to mandate age-appropriate experiences online and protect under-18s from harmful content. They also noted that most schools already restrict phone use during the day.
However, Badenoch's proposal signals a potentially more restrictive approach, aiming to work with the tech industry to establish firm age limits as part of a broader strategy that includes banning mobile phones in schools.
