Finance
Britain asks parents: Should social media be banned for under-16s?
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 1, 2026
Quick Summary
Britain has launched a three‑month consultation starting March 2026 to seek parents’ and children’s views on possibly banning social media for under‑16s, curbing addictive features, and limiting AI chatbot access, following Australia's pioneering under‑16 ban implemented in December 2025.
Britain Seeks Parent Input on Social Media Ban and Online Safety for Under-16s
Government Consultation on Online Safety Measures for Children
LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - Britain is seeking the views of parents and children on whether to ban access to social media for under-16s, as well as possible restrictions on gaming platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots.
Governments worldwide are trying to limit the impact of social media and gaming on children's mental health and sleep, with parents feeling outpaced by platforms built to maximise the time young users spend online.
Australia introduced a ban on social media for under-16s in December, and other governments, including Britain's, are weighing similar moves.
Proposed Measures and Areas of Focus
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he wants to introduce new powers to protect children, beyond those in an Online Safety Act which is only two-and-a-half years old.
Scope of the Consultation
The three-month consultation, starting on Monday, will look at measures ranging from a possible minimum age for social media to bans on addictive design features and overnight curfews for under-16s.
Real-World Pilots and New Powers
REAL-WORLD PILOTS AND NEW POWERS
"We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having," technology minister Liz Kendall said in a statement.
"This is why we're asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change."
Implementation and Future Regulations
The government said it would run pilots with families and teenagers to examine how potential social media restrictions could work in practice.
It will also study whether children should be able to interact with AI chatbots without limits and how age-verification rules should be strengthened.
Stricter Rules for Tech Companies
Britain is separately preparing stricter rules to require tech companies to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours or face fines of up to 10% of global revenue.
Reporting and Editing
(Reporting by Sam TabahritiEditing by Paul Sandle and Peter Graff)
Key Takeaways
- •The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Technology Minister Liz Kendall, is proposing new powers beyond the 2023 Online Safety Act—including age limits, curfews, and design restrictions—to bolster child protection online. (theguardian.com)
- •Australia became the first country to enforce a nationwide ban on social media accounts for individuals under‑16 from 10 December 2025, affecting platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit and others, with fines up to A$49.5 million for non‑compliance. (apnews.com)
- •Since enforcement, Australia saw around 4.7 million under‑16 accounts deactivated, demonstrating both the scale of the measure and its global appeal as a test case for similar policies. (aljazeera.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Britain asks parents: Should social media be banned for under-16s?
1Why is Britain considering a social media ban for under-16s?
The UK government is exploring ways to protect children’s mental health and safety online, citing concerns over screen time, addictive design, and exposure to harmful content.
2What measures are being considered besides a blanket ban?
Measures discussed include setting a minimum age for social media, restricting addictive features, imposing overnight curfews, and tightening age verification.
3How is the government collecting feedback on these measures?
A three-month consultation has been launched, inviting parents and children to share views. Pilot programs with families and teenagers will also test new restrictions.
4Are there plans to regulate AI chatbots and gaming platforms for children?
Yes, restrictions on gaming platforms and AI chatbots are under review to ensure children’s interactions online are safe and age-appropriate.
5What new rules are proposed for tech companies over harmful content?
Tech firms may face requirements to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours or risk fines up to 10% of global revenue.