The UK government is preparing to introduce new restrictions on social media use for children under 16, in a major shift aimed at strengthening online safety protections.
Olivia Bailey, the UK Education Minister in the Department for Education, confirmed that the government will impose “age or functionality restrictions” on social media platforms for under-16s, regardless of the outcome of an ongoing consultation on online harms.
The move is part of a wider effort to address concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, safety, and development. Ministers have said the current situation cannot continue and stronger action is needed.
Bailey told MPs that the government will introduce a legal duty requiring the Secretary of State to act once the consultation concludes, meaning the reforms will be mandatory rather than optional.
She said the government was “placing a clear statutory requirement” to ensure action follows the review, adding: “The status quo cannot continue.”
The consultation is exploring possible measures including age-based access limits, restrictions on platform features, and potential curfews for children using social media, gaming platforms, and AI chatbots.
The proposals follow sustained pressure from the House of Lords, led by Conservative peer Lord Nash, who has campaigned for stronger legal protections for children online.
Laura Trott welcomed the announcement, calling it a major step forward for child safety online and urging the government to act quickly once the consultation ends.
Campaigners have also backed tighter rules, including Esther Ghey, who has been vocal about online harms following the death of her daughter in 2023.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also raised concerns with major tech companies including Meta, TikTok, Snap, X, and Google, warning that urgent action is needed to protect children online.
He has suggested that safeguarding may require restricting access to certain platforms, even if that limits usage for younger users.
The planned restrictions are expected to form part of wider UK Online Safety reforms designed to increase accountability for tech companies and reduce exposure to harmful content.
Lord Nash described the government’s commitment as a “major breakthrough” for children’s online safety and urged swift implementation.
With political pressure rising and public concern growing, the UK is now moving towards a stricter regulatory system that could significantly change how under-16s use social media.