Education Adviser, Lucie Welch, discusses the UK social media ban for under 16s and what this means for schools..

I often reflect on my sheer good luck to be born a Millennial and that social media wasn’t a thing in my youth. Somewhere knocking around are some embarrassing disposable camera photos – but we didn’t document our lives in the way we do now (thank goodness!).

Today, we are glued to our devices, even I, someone who works in Safeguarding and understands the risks, can still fall down a scroll hole like the best of them.

Now, for me, my algorithm is programmed to show me ideas of days out with the kids, a bit of celebrity gossip, and people who pressure-wash patios, so, imagine my surprise, when I was mindlessly scrolling and was presented with an up-close video of the fatal shooting of American political activist Charlie Kirk.

It was shocking, violent and completely distressing, and it appeared from nowhere.

I don’t follow political accounts or like political content, so it was completely out of the norm – but nevertheless, I saw it and will likely never forget seeing it.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, if I can see that on my social media, so can any other person on social media – including children.

As much as our algorithms show us what we like, they can occasionally throw in a curveball that can not only be distressing but also dangerous.

The Social Media Ban

In June this year, the UK Government announced plans to ban under 16s from using major social media platforms. This is not to stop internet access altogether, but to reduce risks from certain social media platforms and to minimise the harm they can do to those under the age of 16.

The ban includes apps such as:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Snapchat
• YouTube
• Facebook
• X (formerly twitter)

Companies found allowing under-16 accounts face significant financial penalties.

We all know the harms of social media, caused by not only the content children see, but also the rise of cyber-bullying, online exploitation and even addiction to devices, and the impact on mental health and self-esteem.

The UK Government’s  Scientific Evidence Review (2026) carried out by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology found that more time on social media leads to poorer mental health outcomes and even an increase in premature death in young people.

Social media companies will now be forced to implement strict and robust age-verification systems, which could include uploading official ID documents, facial recognition programmes or the use of AI.

Ofcom have been tasked with finalising these methods, to be in place by Spring 2027.

Why now?

The UK Government has been debating social media use as part of online safety for nearly a decade.

The Online Safety Act (2023) was brought in as a result of these discussions, but it soon became clear that clearer legislation, about social media specifically, was needed.

When sharing information about the ban, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that social media is “making children unhappy” and that it creates a culture “where it is easier for bullies to harass and abuse, and it could even be harming their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous because that’s what grabs the attention.”

Pressure to bring in the ban is not only supported by evidence around mental health, but by parents too, with 90% agreeing with the ban in the online Government consultation. This follows on from a ban implemented in Australia in December 2025, with countries such as Canada and France looking to follow suit over the coming months.

The Government has highlighted that it is not just the content that provides a danger, but the actual design of these platforms. They are built to have addictive features, for example, allowing limitless scrolling, algorithmic amplification which can funnel certain viewpoints or ideologies and social comparison dynamics, which cause children and young people to compare themselves to others that they see online.

Will the ban remove all dangers?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

For children, this ban does mean stricter limitations and rules around what they can and can’t use; certain platforms will be banned entirely, and others, such as some AI platforms, will be more closely monitored.

The ban is hoped to reduce time spent on devices and minimise access to harmful content – with the Government stating that they want to “give kids their childhood back”.

But as much as the ban will shift focus, it cannot guarantee safety for all. There are still ways of bypassing the ban – whether that’s using a parent’s ID to register or using a VPN (virtual private network) to access these platforms, allowing children to continue accessing not only the restricted platforms but other unsafe or inappropriate content online.

What does the ban mean for schools?

The guidance makes it clear that schools are not responsible for enforcing the ban; that responsibility lies with the social media platforms themselves. But there are things that schools and education settings need to do to prepare themselves for the implementation of the ban.

Schools need to consider:

What about post-16?

It is also important that we think about what happens post-16, when children, all of a sudden, have free and open rein to access social media. We must be sure that teaching around online safety and safe use of social media does not stop in our RSHE and PSHE lessons and that we still provide children with the tools they need to stay safe online- even if they can’t access those platforms.

As positive as the ban will be, we cannot rely solely on it for keeping children safe. Over-filtering could create concerns of its own, in the same way a newly-turned 18 year old may overindulge in alcohol because now it’s legal. We have a duty to ensure risks are still shared and highlighted, coping strategies are taught, and children are given the right tools to make safe choices and keep themselves safe.

In summary, the ban doesn’t remove safeguarding risks but reshapes them and schools need to act quickly to navigate this change. Although schools are not in charge of the implementation of the ban, they need to be in a position to respond to what this means for their processes and procedures, but also to the emotional wellbeing of their pupils.

If you found this blog useful, you may also be interested in reading the following blogs:

Government consultation on children’s social media use: will it protect young people’s wellbeing and ensure safer online experiences?

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  About the Author

Lucie Welch – Adviser, Services For Education

Lucie Welch has worked in the field of Primary Education for the last 15 years, holding the positions of Assistant Head of School, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Attendance Lead and Designated Teacher for Looked After Children. Through working across several local authorities and within multi-academy trusts, Lucie has garnered a passion for safeguarding and supporting children and young people to enable them to thrive.

At Services For Education, Lucie is an integral part of the Safeguarding team, sharing her expertise with schools, colleges, trusts, and other educational settings across the city of Birmingham and beyond. Dedicated to improving safeguarding practices in an actionable and impactful way, Lucie works closely with settings to provide bespoke training, supports with reflection on their own practices during Safeguarding audits and always strives to contribute to a better learning environment for all children. Through delivery of statutory training for DSLs and Safer Recruitment, Lucie works with colleagues in all age ranges and is a source of expertise within these areas.

Lucie also wears other important hats within the School Support Team. Not only is she dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of students through her role in safeguarding, but she also plays a key part in the PSHE/RSE and Health for Life teams. Additionally, Lucie partners with the Best Practice Network to deliver the Early Career Framework, supporting new teachers in their professional development.