Should the UK introduce a social media ban for under 16s?
- Posted on December 10, 2025
- By The Independent
- 3 Views
Should the UK introduce a social media ban for under 16s?

Australia implemented a world-first social media ban for children younger than 16 on Wednesday (December 10). The country’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, hailed the ban as a way for Australian families to “take back power from big tech companies.” In the UK, ministers have said they will be keeping a “close eye” on Australia’s ban; Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, told BBC Breakfast the government would “certainly consider” a ban “not only if it worked, but if young people believe that it was working and trusted that that was a solution”. The Independent asked the public whether they think a similar policy should be introduced in the UK.