Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Ms Kemi Badenoch, has said her party would ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms if it returns to power.
Badenoch made the disclosure in an interview with the BBC, where she explained that the proposal would mirror Australia’s recent move to introduce a nationwide restriction on social media use for under-16s.
She said the policy would also extend to banning the use of smartphones in schools.
According to her, many parents are concerned about their children’s exposure to social media but lack the technical capacity to properly control access.
Badenoch linked what she described as the addictive nature of social media platforms to increasing mental health challenges among young people, arguing that government action was required to safeguard children.
She rejected claims that the proposal amounted to excessive government interference, describing it instead as a conservative and responsible approach to child protection.
Badenoch stressed that children should not be treated as adults when it comes to digital freedoms, noting that protecting young people must take precedence.
Under the proposed policy, social media companies such as TikTok and Snapchat would be required to strengthen age-verification systems to prevent under-16s from creating accounts. She added that the policy would be subject to regular review.
Responding to the proposal, the UK Transport Secretary, Ms Heidi Alexander, said the government would observe how the Australian ban operates before considering similar measures.
She noted that existing legislation, including the Online Safety Act, already empowers Ofcom to protect children from harmful online content.
Alexander said the key challenge remained balancing online safety with allowing children to benefit from positive digital engagement.
She added that the Labour government has ruled out a nationwide ban on smartphones in schools, leaving such decisions to school leaders, although discussions are ongoing on limiting the amount of time children spend on social media.
Some Labour figures have, however, expressed sympathy with calls for tougher controls. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Andy Burnham, said he shared many of the concerns raised about children’s use of social media.
The Liberal Democrats criticised the Conservatives, accusing them of failing to support earlier proposals to raise the digital age of consent to 16, despite repeated warnings about online risks to children.
The NASUWT teachers’ union has also called for restrictions on children’s social media use, citing feedback and evidence from its members.
Under the Online Safety Act, which came into effect last year, social media companies are required to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material linked to self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. Platforms that breach the law face heavy sanctions, including fines and possible bans.
Meanwhile, the UK government is expected to release new guidance this spring on screen time for children under five.
Education Secretary, Ms Bridget Phillipson, said studies show that most children are exposed to screens by the age of two, with excessive screen use associated with poorer language development.
She said the guidance, being developed by a national working group led by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, would involve parents, children and early years professionals, adding that the recommendations would be shaped by families rather than imposed on them.
