Government Launches Swift Consultation on Social Media Restrictions for Children
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has announced an immediate three-month consultation examining potential restrictions on social media use for children under 16, including overnight curfews and mandatory breaks to prevent excessive doomscrolling. The government is considering following Australia's lead by implementing a comprehensive ban on social media access for younger teenagers, with a final decision expected by this summer.
Comprehensive Range of Protective Measures Under Consideration
In a statement to the House of Commons, Ms Kendall revealed that the consultation would explore multiple approaches to safeguarding children from what she described as "acute and chronic online harms." The proposed measures include raising the digital age of consent to prevent companies from collecting children's data without proper authorisation, alongside more rigorous enforcement of existing age verification laws.
The technology secretary emphasised: "I can tell the House we will bring forward a swift three-month consultation on further measures to keep children safe online. This will include the option of banning social media for children under 16, and raising the digital age of consent to stop companies using children's data without their or their parents' consent."
Addressing VPN Circumvention and Screen Time Concerns
The consultation will specifically examine how to prevent children from using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass age restrictions and protective measures. Additionally, the government plans to develop evidence-based screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16, building on research showing potential developmental impacts of excessive screen use.
Ms Kendall acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating: "Many people, including in this House, are strongly in favour of a ban on social media for under 16s as the best and clearest way forward for protecting children and stopping both acute and chronic online harms. They want action now. But others take a different view, saying they worry about letting online platforms off the hook, that a ban would simply push harms further underground, and above all, that it could stop children from using the positives of social media."
School Mobile Phone Policies and International Comparisons
The government has simultaneously published updated guidance reinforcing that mobile phones have no place in schools, with Ofsted instructed to include compliance in school inspections. Ministers will visit Australia as part of the consultation process, where a social media ban for under-16s was implemented in December, to examine the practical implications and effectiveness of such measures.
Ms Kendall made clear: "The question is not whether the government will take further action. We will act robustly. There are clearly risks in all these different approaches, which is why I believe a proper consultation and promoting a national conversation, especially with the public, is the right and responsible way forward."
Political Context and Response
The announcement follows growing concerns about social media toxicity, highlighted by recent controversies involving platform AI tools. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the approach as insufficient, accusing the government of announcing "yet another consultation" rather than taking decisive action. The government plans to seek views from parents and young people throughout the consultation period, with a formal response expected before the summer parliamentary recess.
