Join the Claim is not a law firm. We connect individuals with top law firms for consumer claims, and our service is free to use. While we may receive a fee from the law firms we introduce you to, this will not affect your costs or compensation. We are not responsible for the advice or services provided by these firms. Please note that nothing on this website is legal advice, and while we check claim eligibility, we cannot guarantee a law firm will accept a case.
The UK government has announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms.
The move is intended to protect children from online harms, addictive platform features and harmful content. The proposal marks one of the biggest interventions in social media regulation seen in the UK to date, although questions remain about how the ban will be enforced and which platforms will be included.
We take a look at the proposed ban in our latest guide.
What exactly is being proposed? Which platforms could be affected? And what are the arguments for and against the ban?
Social media is part of everyday life for millions of people. It shapes how we communicate, consume news, build relationships and spend our time online. But concerns are growing about the wider impact some platforms may be having on users — particularly children and teenagers.
What was once seen largely as a personal or parenting issue is now becoming a wider discussion about public health, child safety, digital rights and corporate responsibility.
Researchers, regulators, parents and campaigners are increasingly questioning whether some platforms are designed in ways that encourage excessive use, amplify harmful content, collect large amounts of personal data and expose users to risks they may not fully understand.
And, at least one UK law firm is now investigating whether children and young people who suffered harm linked to social media could be entitled to compensation.
Much of the current debate focuses on children and young people. Campaigners argue that younger users may be particularly vulnerable to harmful content, online bullying, addictive platform features and algorithmic recommendation systems.
In response, governments around the world are considering stronger age verification measures, restrictions on certain platform features and, in some countries, including the UK, outright social media bans for under-16s.
Supporters argue these measures are necessary to protect children online. Critics warn they may be difficult to enforce and could create new privacy concerns.
Concerns around social media harms are not entirely new. But a combination of major lawsuits, growing political pressure, advances in AI-generated content, and increasing concern around children’s online wellbeing has pushed the debate firmly into the mainstream.
At Join the Claim, we monitor major legal, regulatory, and consumer developments related to online harms, digital safety, and platform accountability. As the legal and political landscape evolves, we’ll keep you informed about major developments in the UK and internationally.
Did Facebook unfairly profit from your data? If so, you may be due compensation.
Was your information breached in the Discord cyberattack. Stay informed and register for updates on potential...
In the United States, a growing number of lawsuits are examining whether technology companies can be held responsible for harms allegedly linked to social media platform design.
Some of these cases focus on issues such as:
Several major platforms — including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube — have faced legal challenges related to these concerns.
In the UK, concerns about social media harms have moved firmly into the political mainstream.
In June 2026, the UK Prime Minister announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms, describing child online safety as one of the defining issues facing modern families. The proposed restrictions follow growing concern around addictive platform features, harmful content, online bullying and the impact social media may have on children’s wellbeing.
Not everyone agrees that an outright social media ban is the best solution.
Some charities, online safety experts and campaign groups argue that focusing solely on age restrictions risks overlooking the underlying causes of harm. They believe the priority should be making platforms safer by design, rather than simply preventing younger users from accessing them.
Over the last few years, the UK has seen growing numbers of claims linked to digital platforms, online services and data practices.
And, as of July 2026, at least one UK law firm is investigating whether children and young people who suffered harm linked to social media could be entitled to compensation.
At Join the Claim, we monitor major legal and regulatory developments linked to online safety, digital harms and technology platforms.
If significant developments emerge in the UK, we’ll explain them clearly and keep you updated.
The UK government has announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms, arguing that stronger action is needed to protect children from online harms.
Supporters say the move could help tackle issues such as excessive screen time, harmful content and addictive platform features. Critics, however, argue that bans may be difficult to enforce and that the focus should instead be on making platforms safer for everyone.
We’d like to know what you think.
Social media addiction is a term increasingly used to describe compulsive or excessive use of social media platforms that becomes difficult to control and begins affecting a person’s daily life, wellbeing or mental health.
While the term remains debated in medical and scientific circles, concerns around compulsive platform use have grown significantly in recent years — particularly among children and teenagers.
Researchers, regulators and campaigners have raised concerns that some social media platforms may be designed in ways that encourage users to stay online for longer periods, such as:
Critics argue these systems can encourage repeated engagement and make it harder for some users — particularly younger users — to disengage from platforms.
Concerns around social media harms are not limited to addictive features or harmful algorithms. Increasing attention is also being paid to image-based abuse and the misuse of photos and videos online.
This can include:
For victims, the impact can be severe and long-lasting, particularly where content spreads rapidly across multiple platforms.
Children and teenagers are often considered especially vulnerable, but image-based abuse can affect adults too.
The rise of AI-generated content has also intensified concern. Advances in artificial intelligence now make it easier to create highly realistic fake images and videos, including explicit material created without a person’s knowledge or consent.
As calls grow for stronger safety measures online, wider concerns are also emerging around privacy and digital identity.
Some proposed safety measures could require users to provide additional personal information to verify their age, including:
Supporters argue these tools may improve online safety for children. Critics warn they could also increase the amount of sensitive personal data held by large technology companies.
This means debates around social media harms are increasingly overlapping with wider questions about data protection, surveillance and digital privacy.
Our jargon buster breaks down what no-win, no-fee really means.
You don’t have to fight alone. If a company’s wrongdoing affected you and others, a group claim could help you seek compensation.
What exactly is being proposed? Which platforms could be affected? And what are the arguments for and against the ban?
Want more straight-talking takes on the latest social news?
Follow us on TikTok for quick explainers, updates, and tips that put you in the know.
Not on TikTok? No problem. You can still keep up with the latest on Instagram, Facebook, X and more.
Wherever you scroll, we’ve got you covered.
Sign up for updates and we’ll keep you in the know about data breaches, your rights, and how to hold big companies to account.
The UK government has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms. The proposal is intended to tackle concerns around online harms, addictive platform features, harmful content and the impact social media may have on children’s wellbeing.
While the government has confirmed its intention to introduce the ban, full details are still expected. Questions remain around which platforms will be included, how age verification will work, and how the restrictions will be enforced.
Supporters argue the move is a necessary step to protect children online, while critics have raised concerns about privacy, enforcement and whether bans address the root causes of harm. As the policy develops, we’ll continue tracking the latest updates and what they could mean for families, young people and technology companies.
Possible signs can include compulsive checking of apps, anxiety when unable to access social media, sleep disruption, excessive screen time, difficulty concentrating offline, and social media use interfering with work, education or relationships. Concerns are particularly growing around younger users, although adults can also be affected.
Researchers and regulators often argue that children and teenagers may be more vulnerable to harmful content, online pressure and engagement-focused platform design because they are still developing emotionally and socially. Concerns have also been raised around online bullying, grooming risks, body image pressures and excessive screen time.
Potentially. At least one UK law firm is now investigating whether children and young people who were harmed by social media could be entitled to compensation. If the claim moves forward, parents may be able to bring a claim on behalf of a child, while adults who believe they were harmed as children may be able to bring a claim themselves, depending on the legal criteria.
In the United States, thousands of lawsuits have already been brought against social media companies over allegations that certain platform features contributed to compulsive use and harmed young people’s mental health. The companies involved deny these allegations.
The Online Safety Act is UK legislation that places legal duties on technology companies to protect users from harmful and illegal content, with a particular focus on children.
The law gives Ofcom powers to require platforms to assess risks, improve safety measures and take action against harmful material. Companies that fail to comply can face significant penalties.
Most major social media platforms officially require users to be at least 13 years old. However, regulators have repeatedly raised concerns that younger children are still accessing age-restricted platforms and that existing age checks are often ineffective.
The debate has intensified in recent years as concerns have grown around online harms, addictive platform features and child safety. In June 2026, the UK government announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms, arguing that stronger action is needed to protect children online.
Recommendation algorithms are systems used by platforms to personalise content feeds based on a user’s activity, interests and behaviour.
Critics argue these systems can sometimes amplify harmful or emotionally charged content, while platforms argue they help users discover relevant and engaging material.
The term is often used to describe design features that critics say may encourage prolonged or compulsive use.
Examples can include:
Technology companies dispute claims that their platforms are intentionally addictive.
Image-based abuse refers to the sharing, creation or misuse of images or videos to harass, humiliate or exploit someone online.
This can include:
Some doctors, campaigners and politicians argue there are similarities between current debates around social media harms and earlier public health debates around smoking.
The comparison is usually focused on questions around corporate responsibility, youth protection and whether companies should be held accountable where products are alleged to contribute to harm.
Potentially. At least one UK law firm is now investigating whether children and young people who were harmed by social media could be entitled to compensation. If the claim moves forward, parents may be able to bring a claim on behalf of a child, while adults who believe they were harmed as children may be able to bring a claim themselves, depending on the legal criteria.
A group action claim allows people affected by the same issue to take action together. This strength in numbers helps stand up to big organisations. Join the Claim helps connect people with law firms so these actions have real impact.
We're raising awareness so you don’t miss out on compensation due.
From get-rich-quick schemes to romance scams, fraudsters are hiding in plain sight. We look at what you can do to keep safe.
Join the Claim breaks down how your privacy gets compromised, what it really means for you, and how to fight back when your rights are violated.
Weight loss injections have taken the UK by storm. But behind the hype, more and more users are reporting unexpected side effects. We lift the lid.
When artificial intelligence systems go unchecked, the risks to your personal data, your creative rights, and even your future opportunities stack up fast.
We connect consumers with their legal dream teams to ensure they get the compensation and support they deserve.
Join the Claim is not a law firm. We connect individuals with top law firms for group or individual claims, and our service is free to use. While we may receive a fee from the law firms we introduce you to, this will not affect your costs or compensation. We are not responsible for the advice or services provided by these firms. Please note, nothing on this website is legal advice, and while we check claim eligibility, we cannot guarantee a law firm will accept a case.
Join the Claim is a trading name of Join the Claim Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 1053404). Registered in England and Wales, Company No: 16245278. Registered office: 32 Eyre Street, Sheffield, S1 4QZ.
© Join the Claim All Rights Reserved |
