UK government has unveiled proposals for a consultation on potentially banning social media access for children under the age of 16. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to impose stricter controls on mobile phone usage within schools.
As an “immediate action,” the education watchdog Ofsted will be granted the authority to assess schools’ mobile phone policies during their inspections. The expectation is for schools to become “phone-free by default.”
Additionally, school staff may receive guidance advising them not to use personal devices in front of pupils.
This move comes in response to mounting political and public concern. Over 60 Labour MPs have petitioned for stronger measures, and the call has been echoed by Esther Ghey, the mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey.
“Some argue that vulnerable children need access to social media to find their community,” Esther Ghey stated. “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.”
Department of Science, Innovation and Technology said the consultation will “seek views from parents, young people and civil society” and assess stronger age-verification measures. It will also consider limiting features that “drive compulsive use of social media”. The government is expected to respond in the summer.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said existing online safety laws were “never meant to be the end point”, adding: “We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them and to give every child the childhood they deserve.”
Opposition parties and education unions offered mixed reactions. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the move as “more dither and delay”, while Liberal Democrats warned the consultation could slow action. Teaching unions broadly welcomed the shift but raised concerns about Ofsted’s role and the wider impact of screen time.
The issue is also being debated in the House of Lords, though experts and child safety organisations remain divided on whether age-based bans are effective.
