Government Social Media Ban for Children Sparks Backlash Over Privacy and Effectiveness
London, 15 June 2026 – The Prime Minister has announced a social media ban for under-16s, which will apply to 10 social media platforms.
Mike Salem, UK Country Associate at the Consumer Choice Center, responds:
“This proposal demonstrates a worrying willingness to ignore evidence in favour of political expediency.
The Prime Minister appears more interested in announcing headline-grabbing restrictions than addressing the underlying causes of online harm. The fact that this announcement was made to the media before Parliament had the opportunity to scrutinise it raises serious questions about the government’s willingness to engage in proper democratic debate.
Before imposing restrictions on millions of families, ministers should be able to demonstrate that such measures are necessary, proportionate, and supported by evidence.”
Australia has implemented a similar social media ban, yet recent reports suggest that it has had limited impact. In April, the BBC reported that 61% of children aged 12 to 15 continued to use social media despite the restrictions, while 51% of children who used social media before the ban said it had made no difference to their online safety.
The Consumer Choice Center argues that decisions regarding children’s use of social media should primarily rest with parents rather than the state. The organisation warns that blanket restrictions may encourage some young people to seek access through less regulated online spaces, potentially exposing them to greater risks.
“Children have always found ways to access things they want, which is why parents must retain the ability to exercise their own judgement and responsibility. The role of families should not be eroded by government panic over technology.
I also have grave concerns about the privacy and security implications of how this ban would be implemented. Enforcing such restrictions in a practical and effective manner would almost certainly require far more intrusive age-verification measures, raising significant questions about data protection, anonymity, and the potential expansion of digital identity systems,” concluded Salem.
The Consumer Choice Center has called on the UK Government to reverse its decision and immediately publish the evidence, risk assessments, and supporting documents that informed this policy, allowing the public and Parliament to scrutinise the basis on which it was made.
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The Consumer Choice Center is an independent, nonpartisan consumer advocacy group championing the benefits of freedom of choice, innovation, and abundance in everyday life for consumers in over 100 countries. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Washington, Brussels, Ottawa, Brasilia, London, and Geneva.