Conservative leader would ban social media for children in the UK

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says if her party got back into government, she would introduce a ban on social media for under-16s.

She says she would make social media companies like TikTok and Snapchat use age checks so children under 16 cannot access their apps.

The idea would follow a similar move in Australia, which became the first country in the world to bring in a nationwide ban stopping under-16s from using social media.

Speaking to the BBC she said that social media can have a negative affect on children's mental health and concentration, adding: "We tell children what to do all the time. Children are not adults. Freedom is for adults... Children, we need to protect."

The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, does not currently support a full social media ban for under-16s. Instead, it says it is focusing on making sure children only see content that is suitable for their age.

In the UK, the Online Safety Act is a law designed to make the internet safer, especially for children. It was introduced by the Conservatives when they were in government and its rules have been brought in in stages since 2024.

Under the law tech companies must take steps to stop children seeing harmful content and platforms must provide age-appropriate experiences.

If social media companies don't follow the rules, they risk fines, jail time or, in very serious cases, a ban in the UK.

But Kemi Badenoch said that wasn't enough: "What we are seeing is a lot of children spending so many hours a day on platforms that are profiting from their anxiety, from their distraction, and they are actually designed to be addictive."

Explaining why there are currently no plans for a ban for under-16s, a spokesperson for the Labour government said: "Through the Online Safety Act, we have taken some of the boldest steps anywhere in the world to ensure children have age-appropriate experiences online.

"We are striking the right balance: protecting children from harm while ensuring they can benefit safely from the digital world."

On apps such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat - users must be at least 13-years-old to sign up for an account.

Other groups have also shared their views on the issue.

The NASUWT teachers' union - which represents teachers and their views - has called for a ban on social media for under-16s, saying it could improve concentration in school and protect mental health.

The union says uncontrolled access to social media has been linked to poorer behaviour and exposure to harmful content.

The Liberal Democrat Party said it had "long been raising the alarm" about the issue of children's safety online, but said the Conservative Party hadn't supported them in a vote last year to raise the "digital age of data consent" to 16.

Speaking on the same show as Ms Badenoch, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Labour's Andy Burnham said that he agreed with "a lot of what Kemi Badenoch is saying" on social media use.