UK to consult in March on under-16 social media ban

Britain is getting ready to reshape how young people use the internet. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says no platform will get a free pass as the government prepares a public consultation on whether to ban social media for under‑16s and curb addictive app features. Officials say this call‑for‑evidence opens in March 2026. (Source: GOV.UK press notice, 15 February 2026; ITV News report.) (gov.uk)

What’s on the table? Ministers want views on an under‑16 age limit, limits on infinite scrolling and auto‑play, tighter age checks, and rules on children speaking with AI chatbots. They are also exploring how to stop young people bypassing protections with VPNs. The Financial Times reports the consultation is due to close in April. (Sources: GOV.UK, FT, ITV News.) (gov.uk)

Alongside the consultation, the government plans near‑term legal changes. An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would require chatbot providers to protect users from illegal content, closing a gap in the Online Safety Act. Ministers also want fast‑track powers in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill so they can respond quickly as online behaviour shifts. (Source: GOV.UK press notice.) (gov.uk)

Why now? Earlier this year, X’s Grok chatbot was used to create sexualised deepfakes, prompting scrutiny by Ofcom and changes by the company. Starmer points to that episode as proof the UK will act when platforms fall short. (Sources: FT; ITV/ITV News.) (ft.com)

There is also movement on children’s data rights. The government says it will support a change widely known as Jools’ Law - after campaigner Ellen Roome - so a child’s social media and online data are preserved for inquests. BBC reporting says the plan would require preservation within five days where the data may be relevant to the cause of death. (Sources: GOV.UK; BBC via Yahoo; Jools’ Law campaign.) (gov.uk)

What this means in practice: coroners would be able to trigger a rapid “freeze” on relevant accounts so routine deletion doesn’t erase crucial evidence. Ofcom’s updated guidance already lets the regulator issue Data Preservation Notices, and peers have pressed for a statutory five‑day duty. (Sources: Ofcom guidance, 15 December 2025; House of Lords debate.) (ofcom.org.uk)

Politics is far from settled. Conservative peer Lord Nash wants Parliament to raise the limit to 16 immediately. Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott calls the consultation inaction, while the Liberal Democrats’ Munira Wilson wants a firmer timetable. Child‑safety groups such as the Molly Rose Foundation welcome momentum but urge deeper reform. (Sources: Evening Standard; GOV.UK press notice.) (standard.co.uk)

How could an age limit be enforced? Expect age‑assurance checks - from ID to privacy‑preserving estimation - and design changes on platforms. Ministers are also weighing controls on VPN use that helps children dodge age rules, a move that raises privacy and free‑expression questions the consultation will need to address. (Sources: FT; ITV News.) (ft.com)

You’ll also hear ministers talk about reining in “addictive design”. Infinite scroll keeps content loading with no natural stop; auto‑play nudges you into the next video without asking. Starmer has said the UK should lead on tackling these features, not trail behind. As a reader, you can test this yourself by switching off auto‑play in app settings and noticing how your scrolling changes. (Sources: FT; GOV.UK; AP/ABC reporting on Starmer’s remarks.) (ft.com)

For schools and colleges, this is a live safeguarding brief. In January, the Technology Secretary told MPs that phone use should be curbed during the school day and asked Ofsted to reflect this in inspections. It’s a good time to review behaviour policies, classroom routines and PSHE content so pupils hear a consistent message at school and at home. (Source: DSIT statement to the House of Commons, 20 January 2026.) (gov.uk)

For families and young people, nothing changes overnight. The consultation is your chance to share lived experience - what has helped at home, what hasn’t, and where products still make things harder. Until rules change, set device‑free anchors in the day, switch off auto‑play where you can, and keep talking; problems shrink when a trusted adult is in the loop. (Public consultation timing: GOV.UK; FT.) (gov.uk)

What to watch next: the consultation opens in March 2026 and, according to the FT, is due to end in April. Government says any targeted actions that follow will go to a vote on the floor of the Commons, giving MPs a direct say. (Sources: FT; GOV.UK press notice.) (ft.com)

Quick definitions for students and new readers: doomscrolling is the habit of endlessly swiping through negative updates; infinite scroll is the design that loads new posts without stopping; an AI chatbot is software that generates text or images in response to prompts; a VPN is a privacy tool that can disguise location. Ofcom is the UK’s online safety regulator. (Source: Ofcom.) (ofcom.org.uk)