The UK government is unlikely to ban social media for children under 16. The decision comes after a public consultation which garnered over 81,000 responses, indicating a high level of concern from the public regarding the effects of social media on young people.

Rather than a complete ban, it seems that changes to features that are meant to make the product more engaging are being discussed by Ministers. Suggestions range from removing infinite scroll, autoplay features and location sharing for users under 16 years of age. Some technology industry analysts have backed the strategy, saying that instead of a blanket ban, it could be better to focus on platform features that are addictive.

The UK has taken a more nuanced approach to the issue than Australia, which has decided to ban social media for children under 16. But it seems that many young Australians continue to use social media in spite of the ban on them, suggesting that a prohibition may not be an effective strategy.

Within the next few weeks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to outline the government’s policy on regulating social media. The issue has been hotly debated, with leaders such as Wes Streeting saying it needs to be tougher, and likening the dangers of social media to tobacco.

Stress has also been placed on the Government by grieving parents whose children have succumbed as a result of social media-related incidents. The families have recently met with their new leader, Starmer, and urged the government to take immediate action, such as banning social media use for under-16s within the next few weeks and introducing a policy to protect children online with phone-free schools.