Will the UK ban social media for under-16s?

Blog & News
Written By Jennifer Haynes

Author: Jennifer Haynes

So, Australia has officially banned social media for under-16s.

It’s the first law of its kind, and it’s instantly become a huge talking point in education, parenting and politics. While the ban is happening on the other side of the world, the conversations it’s sparked are very much happening here in the UK too.

How did Australia actually pull this off? What have the reactions been from parents, young people and experts? And the big question for schools and educators over here… will we be next?

Let’s dig in.

Why would we ban social media?

We all know social media has a big impact on young people, and that impact isn’t abstract.

Teachers see it in friendship fallouts sparked by group chats, tired students doomscrolling late into the night, and dips in confidence after comparison to the latest influencers. It shows up in focus, anxiety around social status, classroom disruption and safeguarding concerns.

I know it’s not all bad. Socials can also offer connection, voice and community, especially for young people who feel isolated offline. But the algorithm-led design of today’s apps amplifies pressure, comparison and exposure to harmful content in ways previous generations didn’t face.

So, when UK policymakers bring this up, it’s not random. In February 2025, a petition calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts passed 127,000 signatures, triggering a debate by MPs in parliament. The House of Lords has also held similar discussions, showing this isn’t online noise; it’s becoming a real policy conversation.

And Australia is the first country to actually turn that conversation into law.

What does the Australian ban look like?

The new law in Australia came into effect on 10 December 2025, and it basically forces social media companies to stop people under 16 from holding accounts on major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (Twitter), YouTube, Reddit and more.

Here’s the important part:

  • The law doesn’t criminalise kids or parents for using social media = the responsibility is on the platforms to take “reasonable steps” to keep under-16s off their apps.

  • Platforms that don’t comply can be fined up to around $49.5 million AUD.

  • Under-16s can still view public content without an account, but they can’t log in, post, or take part like they used to.

That might sound clear-cut, but in reality, it’s still messy and challenging to enforce. Age checks rely on tech like AI or optional ID submissions, and even Google has said it’s going to be difficult.

Has it worked? What are people saying?

Because the law is so new, it’s way too early to say whether it’s “working” in the big picture. At this stage, it’s mainly been implemented and platforms have started removing under-16 accounts.

But the reactions vary:

Parents

Some parents say it’s been great because they feel like they have a bit more space to teach their kids about healthy digital habits. Others say it’s put them in a weird position of having to “police” their kids more than before, and that clever teens can find workarounds.

Teens

Reactions from teens are all over the place. Some are happy to be off social media or not have to deal with comparison, algorithms and pressure. Others argue it takes away something important - a space to connect, find community, or express themselves. There are even legal challenges in Australia where young people are pushing back against the ban.

Experts

Some experts say it’s a good step toward safety. Others warn it could push young people toward other unregulated corners of the internet or make them less prepared to deal with online spaces when they’re older.

All in all, the answer’s complicated, and there’s no simple “ban fixes everything” conclusion yet.

What has the UK already done?

It’s worth saying: the UK hasn’t been sitting back.

The Online Safety Act 2023 introduced legal duties on tech platforms to protect children from harmful content, with Ofcom given powers to fine companies that fail to comply. Rather than banning social media outright, it focuses on forcing platforms to design safer environments and carry out child-risk assessments.

Notably, the Act requires sites with adult content to verify the age of users – a requirement which came into force in July 2025. This is significant when discussing social media bans, as it means the legislative and technical details of age verification are already in place and ready to be used elsewhere. (Though it’s worth noting that these checks are not without their flaws and can currently be bypassed in a number of ways.)

In 2026, the Department for Education strengthened guidance on schools’ phone use policies, announcing Ofsted would be enforcing the policy, reinforcing the link between online access, behaviour and wellbeing in classrooms.

There have also been increasingly public confrontations with major platforms, including scrutiny of X (formerly Twitter) over AI-generated imagery and online safety concerns, signalling a greater willingness to challenge tech giants directly.

Will a social media ban happen here in the UK?

Momentum is building around this idea. MPs have debated a petition on enforcing a minimum age for social media use, and the Prime Minister recently signalled that the government needs to move “at speed”.

But the government has not yet committed to a full ban like Australia’s, and the Prime Minister remains “open-minded”. So, while it seems some kind of action can be expected, it remains to be seen whether that will constitute a full ban of social media for under-16.

 

As for the timeline, the Prime Minister expressed his faith in the Online Safety Act as good legislation but criticised its turnaround time of eight years. (Expect to hear something more before 2034, then!)

Some elements of the Online Safety Act (including Ofcom’s enforcement guidance) won’t be fully implemented until early 2027 – so it’s possible the government will wait to see the results of that first measure before acting further.

Similarly, Australia’s legislation mandates an independent review of the law by the end of 2027 at the latest. If other governments are inclined to see the effect of Australia’s restrictions before implementing their own, we might expect a full ban to be unlikely before 2028.

However, with the spotlight on the issue across public opinion, the press, and Westminster, the government will likely take some action sooner rather than later.

Exactly how stringent any restrictions are likely to be remains to be seen.

And honestly? I get both sides.

I experienced bullying on social media as a teen. And the constant comparison to others is something I still catch myself doing now.

A ban could genuinely protect young people from experiencing that.

But let's be realistic: if teens want to access social media, they will. VPNs, fake ages, borrowed accounts - a ban just pushes it underground.

My own take is that the real issue isn't access, it's what's allowed on these platforms.

Better regulation of harmful content, algorithms that aren't designed to fuel addiction and push toxic narratives - those are what really need to change.

A ban is a start, but it's not the full answer.

So… how would a ban affect Peerscroller?

It wouldn’t.

Peerscroller may look like social media. It scrolls like TikTok, it feels familiar to anyone who's used Instagram reels. But strip away the surface and it's fundamentally different.

There's no commenting. No liking. No followers. No feed of what your mates are posting. You can't even build a profile that anyone else would see.

Which means it captures the appeal of social media, without the parts that make it so sticky and stressful for young people: not least, the comparison, the pressure to perform, and the need for validation.

That's deliberate. We wanted something that felt accessible to teens without replicating the harm

So, if you’re concerned about a potential social media ban affecting access to Peerscroller, rest easy – Peerscroller isn’t social media, and never has been.

Ban or no ban, schools and colleges can continue to use Peerscroller for wellbeing content, PSHE lessons, real conversations about online life, without worrying they're just adding another social platform to the pile.

Jennifer Haynes
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