Mon, 19 Jan 2026

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 UK to consult on social media ban for under 16s

The government said it expected schools to be "phone-free by default" as a result of the announcement.

* The UK government will consult on a potential ban on social media for under-16s
* Ofsted will gain power to inspect schools' phone use policies and aim for "phone-free by default"
* Similar bans have been implemented or considered in other countries, including Australia
* The consultation will seek views from parents, young people, and civil society on the effectiveness of a ban
* The government also plans to investigate whether social media firms can implement more robust age checks
* Ofsted will provide tougher guidance to schools to reduce phone use among pupils
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