‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK
The UK is weighing tougher rules on social media for under-16s, with campaigners, teens and parents split over bans, age checks and design limits.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The Guardian sets out the arguments around the UK government’s online safety consultation, which could lead to an Australia-style under-16s ban or tighter limits on addictive app features. The debate is shaped by child-safety campaigners, bereaved parents, teenagers and the NSPCC.
The UK is deciding how to keep children safer on social media. Some people want a full age limit, while others think the apps should be made less sticky and less dangerous instead.
It is a bit like deciding whether to close a playground or just remove the broken glass, sharp edges and dangerous swings. Some adults think the whole place is too risky. Others think kids should still be able to play, but only in a safer way.
The story matters because social media is where many young people talk to friends, follow news and do schoolwork. The big question is how to protect them without taking away things they also use every day.
Analysis
What the consultation is about
The UK government’s consultation on children’s online safety is expected to lead to new action against social media platforms. Ministers have already signaled that they may pursue an Australia-style ban for under-16s or restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling, with the Online Safety Act already in place but still under criticism for how slowly it is being implemented.
The main arguments
Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly died after exposure to harmful content online, rejects a simple blanket ban. He argues that a hard age cutoff would create a sudden drop-off in protection, with teenagers moving from blocked platforms to the same harmful services once they turn 16. He favors a model that would keep under-16s away from platforms that do not meet strict safety standards, while also targeting aggressive algorithms, push alerts, autoplay and endless scrolling.
Esther Ghey, mother of Brianna Ghey, supports raising the social media age limit. She says social media can be a serious risk for under-16s and wants both stronger limits and better digital literacy so children are better prepared before they join these platforms.
Teen and youth views
A 17-year-old student, Fin, says a full ban feels too harsh because social media is also used for news, friends and schoolwork. He backs regulation of addictive design features, but says the debate often lacks nuance and does not fully consider how embedded phones are in classrooms and homework.
The NSPCC’s focus groups found a similar concern among young people: many think adults do not fully understand the way phones are used for research, revision and staying connected. The article presents a policy debate that is no longer just about whether action is needed, but about what kind of action would actually protect children without cutting them off from useful parts of the online world.
Key points
- The UK government is consulting on new online safety rules for children and may act quickly after submissions close.
- Ministers have floated an under-16s social media ban or restrictions on addictive features such as infinite scrolling.
- Ian Russell wants platforms that fail safety standards blocked for under-16s, rather than a blanket ban.
- Esther Ghey supports raising the age limit and wants more digital literacy for children.
- Teenagers quoted in the piece say the debate needs more nuance because social media is also used for school, news and keeping in touch.
