Petition Do not ban social media for under 16s

I would like to thank all those who signed the petition on this important issue. The government is committed to harnessing the benefits of technology to shape a future that works for us all, particularly for children. To do this, people must have confidence that their children are protected online.

The Online Safety Act (the ‘Act’) is one of the toughest regimes globally in protecting people from illegal content and activity, and children from harmful and age-inappropriate content. Since the Act has come into effect, the government has ensured keeping children safe online remains a priority and have always said we will take further action as necessary.

We know parents are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when to give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having. We also know there are growing concerns among parents, carers and those that work with children about AI, including children forming relationships with chatbots as if they were real people.

Every child deserves the strongest possible start in life, full of love, learning and play. Technology can open up huge opportunities for young people and social media can help children communicate with friends and feel part of a wider community. However, in the age of smartphones, children’s lives are changing rapidly – sometimes faster than families, schools or support services can respond.

There are calls from across the UK for the government to take action, including calls from many to enforce a social media ban for under 16s. However, as is evident from this petition, opinions on a possible social media ban are divided – with some of the most prominent voices believing that social media ban is not the right answer. This demonstrates that, while there are calls for the government to take action, there is still no consensus on how.

The government firmly believes that policy making must give proper consideration to a range of views and be rooted in the best available evidence. That is why, on the 2 March 2026, the government launched a consultation to seek further evidence and views on these issues and possible solutions, including on whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and if so, what age would be right. The responses to this consultation will also help shape decisions on:
• Whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features that keep children hooked late into the night - like infinite scrolling and autoplay;
• Whether mandatory overnight curfews would help children sleep better and what age they should apply to;
• How age verification and age assurance technologies can support effective implementation and;
• Whether the use of mobile phones in schools should be put on a statutory footing.

This will be a short, sharp consultation of three months, closing on 26 May 2026, allowing us to hear all perspectives, build consensus where we can, and then act decisively. There will be no delay, and government will explain our next steps by the summer.

We welcome views from all those with an interest in this issue, including parents, children’s organisations, bereaved families, industry, and children themselves. Alongside the consultation, today we are launching a child‑ and parent‑friendly version to ensure voices in this debate are properly heard. To access the consultation, consultation survey, and child and parent friendly versions of the consultation survey, please follow this link: Growing up in the online world: a national consultation - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation).

Alongside the consultation, we are launching a wide-ranging national conversation and piloting potential interventions to ensure future decisions are informed by real-world evidence. We will also look closely at the experience in Australia and their ban for under 16s.

This consultation is the next step in the government’s work to ensure children’s experiences online are safe and enriching. Together, we are shaping a digital world that reflects our values and protects our children while preparing them for the future in an age of digital technologies and rapid technological change.

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology