Social Media Ban Support Hub
The UK social media ban announcement may signal progress for some but in reality it does not remove the risks children face online and there are many questions that remain unanswered.
This hub brings together information to support families through this uncertain time including simple guides to help navigate conversations with your children. The most important thing to do now is talk to young people and keep the lines of communication open and free from judgement.
Our resources have been created to help parents and carers understand the recent social media ban announcement and what it may mean for children and families. While the changes have sparked a range of reactions and many details are still unclear, parents will play a vital role in helping children navigate online life safely.
We will continue to share guidance as more details are learnt about the announcement. Please continue to check this page or our social media for the latest guidance.
There are many questions about what the announcement means and details released by the Government so far have been vague, but here’s what has been announced so far:
– Social media ban for under 16s to include platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X.
– Under 16s to be blocked from livestreaming, including on gaming platforms.
– Safety restrictions will default on for under 17s to avoid a sudden change at 16.
– Potential overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling for under 18s coming later.
n April 2026, we released polling results on the effectiveness of the Australia Ban, finding that 61% of Australian children still had access to at least one banned social media platform. More than half said the ban had made no difference to their safety, while 1 in 7 reported feeling less safe online.
New research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in June 2026 supports these findings, showing that 89% of Australian children still had access to social media platforms, including services that can be accessed without an account, such as YouTube. The study also found there had been only a 2% reduction in the number of 12 to 13 year olds using social media every day.
We released our response to the ‘Growing up in an Online World’ Government Consultation with recommendations that they commit to take further action on online safety.
The social media ban announcement came ahead of the official outcome of the consultation and we expect further announcements to be made over the coming months. We will be keeping a close eye on the outcome.
The Government has indicated that the ban is expected to come into force from Spring 2027, although exact timings have not yet been confirmed.
It’s important to remember that the introduction of the ban does not automatically mean children under 16 will no longer be able to access social media. Enforcing age restrictions at scale is complex and is likely to take time. There are also significant challenges around verification and compliance across different platforms.
Evidence from Australia highlights these difficulties. Research published in the British Medical Journal found that 89% of 14- to 15-year-olds had used at least one restricted social media app in the previous week. For the foreseeable future, it is therefore sensible to assume that many children under 16 will continue to have access to social media, regardless of the new rules.
Your role as a parent or carer does not fundamentally change when the ban comes into force. Responsibility for enforcing the ban will sit with the Government, regulators and technology companies, not with parents.
Conversations about age restrictions can still be valuable, helping children understand the rules and boundaries that exist both online and offline. However, the most important message children need from the adults in their lives is one of support. They should know that they can come to you with questions, worries or mistakes, and that your support is not dependent on them getting everything right online.
The focus should remain on maintaining open communication, building digital resilience and helping children navigate their online lives safely, rather than trying to police the ban yourself.
We know that children can experience unacceptable and preventable harms on social media. However, these harms are not exclusive to social media platforms.
The proposed ban is currently focused on social media, although the Government has also announced plans to introduce additional measures for other online spaces, such as gaming, livestreaming and community platforms.
At this stage, we do not know exactly which platforms will be included in the ban. The Government has suggested it may follow a similar approach to Australia, where only 10 major social media services are covered by the legislation.
It is also important to recognise that there are far more social and communication apps available than are likely to be included in any ban. Even if enforcement is effective on the largest platforms, children may still be able to access other social platforms and online communities. This means the challenges associated with online safety will not disappear, and ongoing support and guidance for children will remain essential.
Many families are understandably concerned about what these changes may mean for their children. While we all recognise the harms the ban is intended to address, broad restrictions can sometimes have unintended consequences and affect families in different ways.
We recommend exploring the resources on this page, which will be updated regularly as more information becomes available. You may also find it helpful to speak with trusted professionals in your child’s life, such as teachers, carers, youth workers or support workers, particularly if you have concerns about how the changes may affect them.
If there is a question or concern that is not covered in our guidance, please get in touch. Although we cannot provide support for individual cases, we will use the feedback we receive from families to continually review and update our guidance. Our goal is to make sure this resource remains relevant, practical and responsive to the needs of families as more information becomes available.
Families need our guidance more than ever. You can help us continue our work providing expert advice throughout the uncertain times ahead.
This resource gives tips and guidance on how to have an open and constructive conversation with children and young people about the social media ban.
This guide helps parents to understand how to support their family through the social media ban announcement, including children with SEND.
This guide helps parents understand the recent social media ban announcement and what it may mean for children and families.
The UK government’s social media ban this week is already causing confusion. We’ve launched guidance on how to navigate these changes.
Only slightly fewer teens are seeing harmful content now (34%) than immediately before the Online Safety Act came into force (37%).
Molly Rose Foundation warns it would be a ‘high stakes gamble’ for the UK to implement an Australia-style ban at this stage.