Parents overwhelmingly back social media ban for children, says Technology Secretary

UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall revealed that a government ban on social media for children under 16 is being seriously considered after a public consultation received over 80,000 responses. Nine in ten parents supported Australian-style restrictions, which would prohibit under-16s from holding social media accounts. Liz Kendall stated the response from parents was overwhelming, emphasizing their concerns about online safety despite some benefits of social media for children. The consultation also proposed additional measures, including app curfews and limits on addictive platform features. Liz Kendall’s comments mark the strongest indication yet that the UK government will introduce a ban, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledging action within weeks. This follows a meeting with parents of children whose deaths were linked to social media use. The move is expected ahead of the Makerfield by-election on June 18, with the government preparing to announce plans for stricter controls. However, Scotland’s children’s commissioner, Nicola Killean, questioned the effectiveness of a ban, stating that evidence on such measures is limited and may shift responsibility away from platforms onto children. She argued that underlying issues, such as exploitative algorithms, would remain unaddressed.