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In recent months, the conversation around children and social media has reached a turning point. Governments, regulators, and parents are increasingly asking a difficult question: should children under 16 be allowed on social media at all?
In the UK, pressure has been mounting on platforms to better protect young users, with regulators such as Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office calling for stronger safeguards and stricter age verification. At the same time, international developments, particularly in Australia, have accelerated the global debate, with policymakers openly discussing bans for under-16s.
The goal is clear. Protect children from harmful content, reduce exposure to addictive design features, and improve mental health outcomes. But will a ban actually work? Or does it risk creating a deeper problem beneath the surface?
At Rebel Therapies, this is not just theory. Our team of accredited coaches, therapists, and behavioural specialists have spent years working directly with families, schools, and young people experiencing the real emotional toll of screen overuse. In this article, we break down the details of the ban, and what our team of accredited screen addiction experts actually think of the plans.
The Details of the Social Media Ban
As the conversation around protecting children online intensifies, many parents, schools and professionals are asking the same questions. What does this ban actually mean in practice, and how will it affect families across the UK?
Below, we break down the key details in a clear, practical way.
Who is leading the social media ban?
In the UK, responsibility sits with two key regulatory bodies:
- Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator
- The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), responsible for data protection
Together, they are driving stricter expectations around how platforms protect children, particularly when it comes to age verification and harmful content.
When will the social media ban come into effect?
At present, there is no single nationwide ban in force in the UK (as of 2026). Instead, what we are seeing is a phased approach:
| Date | Stage | Key Development |
| October 2023 | UK Online Safety Act becomes law | mandating child safety risk assessments for all social media platforms |
| November 2024 | Australian Parliament approves the Online Safety Amendment Act | Setting the ban for under-16s |
| December 10th 2025 | Australia enforces the ban | The Australian government will deactivate all accounts for users under 16 and prevent those users from holding an account until after they turn 16. |
| January 2026 | The government announces a formal consultation | The House of Lords backs an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to ban social media for under-16s. |
| March 2026 | Consultation ends | The House of Commons defeats the amendment for an outright ban, proposing instead to enable regulations to restrict specific “features”. |
This means change is already happening, even without a formal “ban” being introduced overnight.
What social media platforms and apps are getting banned for under-16s?
There are currently no plans to enforce a social media ban in the UK, but in
Australia, the following platforms have been banned for under 16’s:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- X (Twitter)
- YouTube
- Twitch
- Kick
- Threads
The platforms that are allowed include:
- Roblox
- YouTube Kids
- Discord
- GitHub
- LEGO Play
- Steam and Steam Chat
- Google Classroom
- Messenger
- LinkedIn
How will the social media ban actually work in the UK?
Rather than a blanket ban at this stage, the UK approach is focused on making platforms safer and more accountable. This includes:
- Stronger age checks, particularly for under-13s
- Increased responsibility placed on social media companies
- Safer default settings for younger users
- Faster removal of harmful or inappropriate content
However, it is important to note that as other countries are exploring stricter options, including full restrictions for under-16s, which could influence future UK policy.
The Science Behind the Social Media Ban
Why are governments considering such drastic measures? The answer lies in the growing body of research around screen addiction and adolescent brain development. Children’s brains are still developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and emotional regulation.
Social media platforms are not neutral tools. They are designed to capture attention, often using reward-based systems that mimic addictive behaviours. As our founder, Munur Shah discovered through years of research and lived experience, these systems are intentionally built to keep users engaged.
Studies published in 2025 linked excessive social media use with increased anxiety and disrupted sleep patterns in adolescents. By enforcing a ban, or tightening restrictions around young people on social media, policymakers hope to:
- Reduced exposure to harmful content
- Lower rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption
- Improved focus and academic performance
- Healthier social development
These figures highlight the scale of the issue, but they also raise an important question. If social media is removed entirely, what replaces it?
What do our screen addiction experts think of the social media ban?
At Rebel Therapies, we bring together a unique combination of expertise. Our team includes accredited NLP practitioners, executive coaches, psychotherapeutic practitioners, and integrative therapists, all working at the top level of behavioural change training. We have worked with families across the UK who are already living the reality behind these headlines.
Here is what our team really thinks.
Q: Do you agree with banning social media for under 16s?
Munur Shah, Founder and Screen Addiction Specialist:
“Banning it completely might feel like the safest option, but it does not teach children how to use technology responsibly. At some point, they will be exposed to it, and if they have not learned how to navigate it safely, the risks can actually be greater.”
Q: What happens if we remove access entirely?
Shabazz Nelson, Psychotherapeutic Practitioner:
“If you remove something without education, you create curiosity and secrecy. Children will always find a way around restrictions. The real issue is not access, it is understanding.”
Q: What should social media companies be doing instead?
Petra Salva OBE, Accredited Coach and Youth Specialist:
“Platforms must take far more responsibility. That means removing harmful content quickly, stopping dangerous creators from gaining influence, and ensuring underage users cannot access accounts in the first place.”
Q: What are you seeing in real families?
Melanie Shah, Integrative Therapist:
“We are working with families at breaking point. Sleep disruption, anxiety, breakdown in communication. These are not small issues. But they are reversible with the right guidance and support.”
What We Recommend at Rebel Therapies
At Rebel Therapies, our approach is different. We do not believe in fear-based solutions or blanket bans. We believe in education, awareness, and sustainable behaviour change.
Our work is built on lived experience, professional training, and years of supporting families through real challenges. Our approach teaches children how technology actually works, it builds awareness of addictive design and introduces healthy boundaries and routines.
We offer structured support through screen addiction courses, group coaching and therapy as well as school and local organisation workshops and masterclasses to not only support parents with practical, proven strategies, but also adults, teachers and carers.
All of our programmes are designed to create long-term change, not short-term restriction.
A New Solution: Rebel Telecom
We also recognise that families need practical tools, not just advice. That is why we are launching Rebel Telecom in Spring 2026.
At Rebel Telecom, we will be offering you a new kind of phone designed specifically for children with:
- No social media
- No open web browsing
- Only approved apps reviewed by Rebel Therapies professionals
- Fully controlled by parents
This is not about punishment. It is about protection and gradual introduction.
The Rebel Phone has already gained interest and backing from schools across the UK and is being developed in line with the needs we see every day in classrooms and homes.
To pre-order a phone or find out more about Rebel Telecom and to be part of a safer digital future, visit https://www.rebeltelecom.com/
Find out more about our courses and therapies, and how we could help you, or to get immediate support from one of our screen addiction experts, contact us here.
