Conservative Leader Demands Social Media Ban for Under-16s to Protect Children
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has issued a powerful call for a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, arguing that current online exposure is causing significant harm to young people's mental health and development.
The Case for Protecting Childhood Online
In a detailed argument published this week, Badenoch highlighted how children today spend hours daily exposed to violent, pornographic, and extremist content online. She emphasised that this material is directly linked to rising anxiety levels, poor sleep patterns, reduced concentration spans, and negative impacts on both behaviour and educational outcomes.
"Children's brains are still developing," Badenoch stated. "Their impulse control, emotional regulation and ability to assess risk are not the same as an adult's. That is why we have age limits on alcohol, a legal age of consent and safeguarding requirements in schools."
The Conservative leader questioned why society has suspended this logical approach when it comes to digital platforms, particularly when content is specifically designed for adult consumption and optimised to maximise engagement through attention-capturing algorithms.
Parental Support and Practical Realities
As both a politician and a parent, Badenoch acknowledged the challenges parents face in monitoring their children's online activities. "No one can be all-seeing," she admitted, noting that children naturally want to participate in what their friends are doing and often possess the technical skills to circumvent parental controls.
Despite these practical difficulties, Badenoch expressed confidence that the vast majority of parents would support a social media ban for under-16s, recognising the protective benefits outweighing implementation challenges.
Broader Implications for Society
The Conservative leader framed the issue as having significant economic implications beyond immediate health concerns. "A generation that struggles to concentrate will struggle to study," she warned. "And a generation that cannot study will struggle to build the companies of the future, serve in our armed forces, or sustain our public services."
Badenoch also presented an unexpected benefit of restricting children's social media access: greater freedom for adults online. She argued that without needing to make all digital spaces universally "child-friendly," platforms could reduce blanket restrictions on speech and content that currently limit adult users.
Political Context and Opposition Response
The Conservative Party has positioned itself as the first major political party in Britain to support a social media ban for under-16s, building on their previous announcement of plans to ban smartphones in schools.
Badenoch criticised the Labour government's response to the issue, noting that 61 Labour MPs have urged their leadership to support action, yet Prime Minister Keir Starmer has only announced another consultation. "They've announced yet another consultation, kicking the can down the road," she said, quoting crossbench peer Lady Kidron's description of Starmer's approach as "doing nothing – slowly."
Consensus Building and Legislative Action
What makes this issue particularly compelling, according to Badenoch, is the broad consensus developing across multiple sectors. Campaigners, clinicians, parents, and experts have aligned in recognising the dangers of unrestricted social media access for children.
Today, the House of Lords will vote on measures to restrict children's access to adult social media platforms, with Conservative peer Lord Nash proposing amendments to advance this protection agenda.
"Putting our children's mental health first is the right thing to do," Badenoch concluded. "How much longer will we have to wait until the government agrees?"
The Conservative leader's intervention represents a significant development in the ongoing debate about children's online safety, combining parental concern with political policy in a way that could reshape Britain's digital landscape for younger generations.
