The Conservative Party has unveiled plans to introduce stricter controls on children’s access to social media if it returns to power, pledging to make tech companies responsible for enforcing age restrictions.
Party leader Kemi Badenoch said firms such as TikTok and Snapchat would be required to block under-16s from using their platforms through robust age-verification systems.
She argued that many parents are struggling to manage their children’s online activity and need government-backed intervention to protect young people.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch linked “addictive” social media apps to rising mental health issues among young people.
She also confirmed that the Conservatives would seek to ban smartphones in schools, describing the measures as part of an effort to reduce the harmful effects of excessive screen time.
Rejecting claims of government overreach, Badenoch said: “Children are not adults. Freedom is for adults. Children, we need to protect.”
In a post on X, she added: “It’s time to introduce age limits for social media and let our children be children.”
Political and Policy Implications
The proposal follows Australia’s recent move to introduce a similar ban, which the UK government says it will monitor closely.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stressed the need for balance, noting that the Online Safety Act already gives Ofcom stronger powers to protect children from harmful online content.
Labour ministers have so far resisted a nationwide ban on smartphones in schools, leaving decisions to headteachers, though they are considering limits on children’s social media use.
Some Labour politicians, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, have supported tougher measures.
The Liberal Democrats criticised the Conservatives for failing to back a proposal last year to raise the “digital age of data consent” to 16, while the NASUWT teachers’ union has also called for a ban after consulting its members.
Since July 2025, platforms have been legally required under the Online Safety Act to prevent children from encountering harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and pornography.
Ofcom enforces the law, with penalties ranging from fines to jail terms for executives, and in extreme cases, bans on non-compliant platforms in the UK.
The debate shows there is a growing political consensus on the need to protect children online, though parties differ on how far restrictions should go and whether responsibility should rest primarily with parents, schools, or tech companies.
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