FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Under 16s Social Media Ban Won’t Work and Risks Overreach
London, 16 April 2026 – Proposals to introduce a blanket social media ban for under 16s risk undermining both consumer choice and effective child safety policy, according to the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), as Sir Keir Starmer meets with major technology companies at Downing Street today. While protecting children online is essential, policies that restrict access to widely used digital tools risk being both ineffective and disproportionate.
Mike Salem, UK Country Associate at the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), said:
“Blaming the tool instead of the misuse is a classic mistake. Technology is not the problem. How it is used, and whether rules are properly enforced, is what matters. If existing laws are not being enforced, adding new ones won’t fix the issue.
International evidence already shows that bans don’t work as intended. In Australia, the majority of young people continued to access social media despite restrictions, and many reported no improvements in their online safety. That should be a warning against headline-driven policy.
What’s needed is smarter enforcement, digital literacy, and real accountability for bad actors, not sweeping restrictions that limit access and risk pushing young users into less transparent, less regulated spaces. “
The CCC highlighted that international evidence undermines the effectiveness of blanket bans. In Australia, 61% of 12-15 year olds who had social media prior to restrictions continued to access one or more accounts, while 51% reported that the measures made no difference to their online safety. These findings suggest that prohibition led approaches fail to address underlying risks and may instead drive activity underground.
The CCC is actively engaging in the national conversation on online safety and digital regulation and will submit a formal response to the government consultation. The CCC emphasises that policy policy must protect young users while preserving consumer choice, innovation, and access to digital services.
Key concerns raised by the CCC include:
- Blanket bans restrict access to digital tools without addressing root causes of harm.
- Evidence shows young users can and do circumvent restrictions, limiting effectiveness.
- Overbroad regulation risks unintended consequences, including reduced transparency and innovation.
- Effective policy should prioritise enforcement, digital education, and platform accountability.
The Consumer Choice Center urges policymakers to adopt a proportionate, evidence-based approach that safeguards children without resorting to blunt restrictions, empowering families, enforcing existing rules, and holding bad actors accountable will deliver better outcomes than sweeping bans.
