Londoners Overwhelmingly Support Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Exclusive polling conducted for MyLondon has revealed that an overwhelming majority of Londoners are in favour of implementing a social media ban for children under the age of 16. This comes as Australia has already taken pioneering steps to restrict young people's access to major platforms, setting a global precedent that many in the UK capital now want to follow.
Strong Public Backing for Stricter Measures
The comprehensive polling data shows that eight out of ten Londoners (75%) support following Australia's lead in banning under-16s from social media. This sentiment is echoed nationwide, with 80% of UK adults welcoming such a ban. The findings highlight growing public anxiety about the amount of time young teenagers spend on screens and the potential dangers they face online.
Social media companies face mounting criticism for developing algorithms that parents and experts claim contribute to addiction, radicalisation, self-harm, and even suicide among vulnerable young users. Last month, the House of Lords voted decisively to back an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing Bill proposed by Conservative peer Lord Nash, which would implement a full social media ban for under-16s across the UK.
Parental Concerns and Age of First Phone
The polling reveals that 62% of London adults are worried about what their children might be exposed to on smartphones, while only 12% expressed no concerns. The most common fear among parents is that children could encounter inappropriate content during their screen time.
Interestingly, the data shows that children in London typically receive their first phone at 11 years, 2 months, and 23 days old. This is eight months later than the UK average of 10 years, 6 months, and 26 days, making London kids the oldest in the country to get their first mobile device.
Australia's Groundbreaking Ban
Australia's world-first social media ban, which came into force in December, prevents under-16s from accessing content on ten major platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Instagram. This bold move has captured international attention and sparked similar discussions in other nations concerned about children's online safety.
Government Consultation and Proposed Changes
The UK Government is launching a landmark consultation on Monday to gather views from parents and young people about new online safety measures. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized that "the path to a good life is a great childhood" and acknowledged that parents everywhere are grappling with screen time decisions.
The consultation will specifically ask whether the UK should implement an Australia-style social media ban for children and at what age such restrictions should begin. It will also explore whether platforms should be required to disable addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay video functions that can keep children engaged late into the night.
Broader Safety Initiatives
Alongside the formal consultation, the Government plans to host a "national conversation" about online safety through community events, constituency discussions led by MPs, and school engagements. An academic panel will examine emerging evidence from countries like Australia that have already implemented social media restrictions.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology indicated that the consultation responds to calls to strengthen online safety laws, as many believe the existing Online Safety Act hasn't gone far enough to protect children. Ministers plan to close the consultation on May 26 and respond in summer, with both Ms Kendall and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowing to change laws swiftly based on the feedback received.
Expert Responses and Future Outlook
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, welcomed the consultation's scope while emphasizing that "the status quo is not working." He stressed the importance of including young people's voices in shaping future legislation and called for measures that would force tech companies to keep under-13s off social media, disable addictive design features, and block harmful content at its source.
The Government has begun preparing special powers that would allow quicker legislative changes without the lengthy parliamentary process that preceded the Online Safety Act. However, these so-called Henry VIII powers have faced criticism in the past for potentially bypassing proper parliamentary scrutiny.
As the consultation period begins, the debate about balancing children's online access with their safety continues to intensify, with Londoners clearly signaling their desire for stronger protections in the digital age.
