More than 80,000 responses have been submitted to a government consultation on social media use by children, with proposals ranging from a total ban on under-16s to restrictions on scrolling and overnight curfews. Among the respondents were over 40,000 parents and 13,000 young people, reflecting the depth of public concern about the impact of online platforms on child mental health.
Proposed restrictions on young users
The raft of measures under consideration includes a ban preventing children under 16 from accessing social media entirely. Other options being examined are more limited: curbing the ability to scroll through endless feeds, a feature critics say fuels addictive behaviour, and imposing overnight curfews that would block access to platforms during late hours. These proposals echo recommendations made by Senior Coroner Andrew Walker following the inquest into the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who was found dead in her bedroom in November 2017. Walker concluded that Molly died from an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content, stating that material she viewed on Instagram and Pinterest “should not have been available for a child to see.”
The coroner’s prevention of future deaths report called for platforms to be separated for adults and children, mandatory age verification, age-specific content filtering, parental supervision and control features, and a review of data retention policies for material viewed by minors. He also recommended considering an independent regulatory body to monitor online content. The consultation responses will inform how the government proceeds with implementing such safeguards.
Legislative backdrop and enforcement
The UK already has the Online Safety Act 2023, which received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. Under the Act, as of 17 March 2025, platforms have a legal duty to protect users from illegal content. From 25 July 2025, they must use “highly effective age assurance” to prevent children from accessing pornography and content encouraging self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders. Ofcom, the independent regulator, is responsible for enforcement and can fine non-compliant companies up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue.
Separately, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which has progressed through Parliament, includes further online safety amendments. It proposes new powers for ministers to require internet service providers to prevent or restrict children’s access to certain services, features, or functionalities where there is a risk of harm. These powers could address time spent on services, access times, contact with strangers, and location sharing — all areas that overlap with the measures being considered in the consultation.
Continued risks despite existing law
Despite the Online Safety Act, research from August 2025 indicated that TikTok and Instagram were still recommending “industrial levels” of harmful suicide and self-harm content to teens. Experts have warned that the Act may not be ambitious enough to tackle the scale of harm. The consultation itself was launched against this backdrop of ongoing concern, with 91% of 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK using the internet for social networking and 95% of children on some form of social media by age 15. Studies have linked heavy social media use to increased anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and psychological distress, with cyberbullying reported by 7 in 10 young people. The Royal Society for Public Health’s 2017 #StatusOfMind report identified Instagram and Snapchat as particularly detrimental, while YouTube was ranked the most positive platform.
The complexity of the relationship is recognised: some longitudinal studies suggest that heavy use — two or more hours a day — may be linked to a small increase in suicide attempts, but low to average use does not strongly predict mental ill health over the longer term. How platforms are used appears to be as important as how much they are used. Social media has been described as more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol, exacerbating feelings of “fear of missing out” (FOMO) and fuelling unhealthy social comparisons.
Range of options and campaigner calls
The consultation’s range of options — from a complete under-16 ban to more targeted interventions such as limiting scrolling or imposing overnight curfews — reflects the spectrum of views on how to protect young people. Molly’s father, Ian Russell, who has campaigned tirelessly since discovering the nature of the content his daughter was exposed to, has urged social media companies to proactively self-regulate and make platforms safer rather than waiting for legislation. He has stated that building safe platforms should be a prerequisite for tech firms doing business in the UK. The family established the Molly Rose Foundation, which connects under-25s with mental health support.
Prince William has also been a vocal advocate, tweeting after the inquest that “online safety for our children and young people needs to be a prerequisite, not an afterthought.” Other bereaved parents whose children’s deaths have been linked to social media have joined the campaign for government action. The consultation, which drew responses from more than 40,000 parents and 13,000 young people, will now feed into decisions on which measures to pursue — whether a ban, curbs on scrolling, overnight curfews, or a combination of statutory duties and new ministerial powers.
