UK government launches social media ban for under 16s
19/01/2026 | UK Government
A new consultation launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Education (DoE) seeks to "start a national conversation" and gauge public opinion on the use of technology by minors and whether children under 16 should be banned from using social media.
As part of this evidence-gathering process, ministers intend to visit Australia to study their approach to social media age limits firsthand.
The consultation covers several key areas, including raising the digital age of consent and implementing phone curfews to curb excessive use. It will also explore ways to improve age-assurance accuracy to ensure younger users access only age-appropriate content.
In addition, the government will consider restricting addictive design features, such as infinite scrolling and streaks, which are thought to drive compulsive behaviour.
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