UK govt mulls under-16 social media ban, app curbs to cut screen time
The UK may follow Australia in banning under-16s from social media as ministers seek public views on curbing screen time and harmful online features for children
 "UK govt mulls under-16 social media ban, app curbs to cut screen time")
The UK government is preparing to seek public views on stricter controls for children’s use of social media and smartphones, including the possibility of an Australian-style ban for children under 16 years of age, the Financial Times reported. The move comes amid growing concern over the impact of excessive screen time and addictive online features on young people.
The consultation, set to be launched on Tuesday (local time), will outline several measures to reduce harmful internet use among children. These include setting a higher digital age of consent, introducing phone curfews, and limiting features seen as addictive, such as gaming “streaks” and endless social media scrolling.
The government is also examining whether certain design elements used by apps and platforms encourage prolonged usage and dependency, particularly among children and teenagers, the news report said.
Labour faces internal pressure before Lords vote
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure from within the Labour Party to back firm restrictions, including a minimum age for social media use on platforms such as TikTok. This comes ahead of a House of Lords vote scheduled for Wednesday.
An amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proposes a ban on social media use for under-16s. A similar policy came into effect in Australia last month.
The proposed amendment has support across party lines. Signatories include Labour’s Baroness Luciana Berger, Liberal Democrat Baroness Floella Benjamin and Conservative Lord John Nash.
The consultation will seek input from both parents and young people. Ministers are also planning visits to Australia to assess how effective the under-16 ban has been on platforms considered potentially harmful, including X and TikTok. In Australia, users are required to clear strict age verification checks before accessing such services.
New screen time guidance for families
Alongside the consultation, the UK government will issue updated screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16. The aim is to address concerns that children’s daily routines are increasingly dominated by digital devices, the news report said.
The government will also tighten guidance for schools, making it clear that classrooms should be phone-free spaces. Students should not have access to their devices during lessons, breaks or between classes.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, “Mobile phones have no place in schools. No ifs, no buts.”
Australia’s landmark social media ban
Australia implemented the world’s first social media ban for teenagers in December last year, a move that has drawn global attention. The law requires platforms such as ByteDance-owned TikTok and Meta’s Instagram to prevent under-16s from accessing their services.
Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to $49.5 million ($33 million). Australia became the first democracy to introduce such sweeping restrictions, responding to rising concerns over cyberbullying, toxic content, and the mental health impact of social media on children.