Social media ban: blocking under-16s from platforms ‘must be properly enforced’ – Fife MP

Melanie Ward welcomed the UK Government’s legislation which, Prime MInister Keir Starmer, said could be in force by Spring 2027 and could affect platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly Twitter.

The ban was welcomed by Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, but criticised by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland who said it would not currently be a proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children’s rights.

The Government’s proposal has re-ignited the debate on how to handle the growing concerns on the harmful content widely available across many platforms.

Ms Ward has supported tougher measures to prevent addictive smartphone use since she was elected in 2024. She recently ran a consultation in her Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency, which heard from 166 students aged 13-15, as well as teachers and parents, and was fed into the wider government consultation on online safety.

Its shocking findings revealed that 70% of students had been contacted online by strangers, and 40% said that they or someone they knew had been bullied, threatened or blackmailed through social media or gaming.

The Govenment’s new plan would ban under-16s from a host of channels and there will be a block on functions which allow strangers to contact children online.

Ms Ward said: “I’m glad the government has listened to Labour MPs and my constituents and announced a ban on under 16s accessing harmful social media sites. This is the right thing to do.

“These plans are world-leading. The ban must rapidly come into force and be properly enforced so that it has the impact that parents are crying out for in cutting the harmful social media use that has become commonplace amongst our young people. The Scottish Government should also rapidly introduce a ban on smartphones in schools.”

How any ban would be implemented or policed has yet to be outlined in detail, and the move has come in for criticism.

Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, said it “spoke to adults only, not to the children and young people who will be most affected by these decisions.” She added: “We undertook a children’s rights impact assessment which found a social media ban for under-16s would not currently be a proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children’s rights.

“Evidence shows that social media can expose children to serious risks, including harmful content, cyber-bullying, manipulation, contact from strangers, exploitation and excessive use. However, it also shows that social media can play an important role in many children’s lives by supporting communication, self-expression, access to information, participation, play, and connection with communities and support networks.

“The available evidence does not currently show a blanket ban would make children safer online, and it may inadvertently push children to less regulated or riskier parts of the internet.”

She said children in rural areas, children with family overseas, disabled children, and those who rely on online spaces for identity, support, or community may be particularly affected.

“Enforcing a ban on children takes away the responsibility on platforms to make social media safer. We want safeguards and the regulation of platforms to be strengthened – and enforced. Platforms must be made to take more accountability in preventing harm – addictive and exploitative features should be the focus. This announcement leaves more questions than answers.” But it was welcomed by Mary Glasgow, chief executive, Children First as “a welcome indication of the desire to protect children in the face of a national childhood emergency.” She added: “The intention of both the UK and Scottish Governments to reset the digital culture that is causing widespread harm to children and childhood is clear. It must now be matched with the resource and determination needed to realise it.”