The Government has launched a consultation on how children use digital technology as well as measures including:
- setting a minimum age for children to access social media – and what age would be right
- restricting risky functionalities and design features that encourage excessive use, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay
- whether the digital age of consent should be raised
- how age verification and age assurance technologies can support effective implementation
- whether the guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools should be put on a statutory footing
- better support for parents, including clearer guidance and simpler parental controls
This is public consultation is open until 26th of May 2026.
The Government has already taken clear concrete steps to deliver a safer online world for our children and young people through the Online Safety Act. Since it came into effect there has been a 53% increase in the number of children who have encountered age checks whilst online, and 6,000 sites have taken action to protect under-18s from harmful online content, including pornography, suicide, and hate speech. The Act has also required social media apps to prevent children seeing dangerous stunts or challenges, misogynistic, violent, or abusive material, and tackle online bullying.
Building on the protections already introduced through the Online Safety Act, the Government has announced plans for a three-month consultation into social media use amongst children, including exploring the option of banning it entirely for children under a certain age. It will also look at implementing a phone curfew to restrict excessive use of mobile phones and examine features that are designed to be addictive such as ‘infinite scrolling’ and ‘streaks’.
It is important that any change to the age limit of social media is workable, evidence-based and will genuinely improve children’s wellbeing. That is why the Government intends to gather views from parents, young people, educators and experts before deciding next steps. Ministers have been clear that no option is off the table as they look at what best can be done to protect children online.
I found it interesting that when I visited secondary schools across Broxtowe, many young people told me that they feel that social media is a significant contributor to poor mental health among their peers.
The Online Safety Act has already given the UK some of the most robust online safety laws in the world, but there is still work to do. Beyond the consultation, the Government has already made Cyberflashing a priority offence, to better protect people from receiving unsolicited nude images. The Government has also recently announced plans to ban AI ‘nudification’ tools outright, while working to stop children being able to take, share or view nude images on their devices.
I am determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them, giving every child the childhood they deserve. I will continue to monitor this matter closely, and I will endeavour to keep you updated if anything changes going forward.