MPs have rejected a proposal that would have banned under-16s from using social media in the UK. The amendment, which was debated as part of wider child welfare legislation, was voted down in the House of Commons by 307 votes to 173.
But while lawmakers stopped short of introducing a nationwide ban, pressure on social media platforms is increasing. UK regulators are now demanding stronger protections for children across major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
Regulators demand stronger safeguards for children
Following the vote, both Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have written to major social media companies calling for urgent action. The regulators have contacted platforms including:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- YouTube
- Roblox
They have asked the companies to explain how they are protecting children online and what steps they are taking to improve safety measures.
Platforms have been given until the end of April to respond.
The regulators are particularly focused on issues such as age verification, harmful algorithms and the risk of online grooming.
Ofcom has also warned companies to stop carrying out product testing on children, including trials of new features or artificial intelligence systems that may affect younger users.
Concerns that age limits are not being enforced
Most social media platforms already require users to be at least 13 years old. However, regulators say those rules are widely ignored. Ofcom research suggests that around 72% of children aged eight to twelve use services that officially require users to be over 13.
Many platforms still rely on users simply entering their date of birth when signing up. The ICO says this type of “self-declaration” is easy to bypass and does little to protect younger users.
Recent enforcement action by UK regulators has already highlighted the risks. In February 2026, the ICO fined Reddit £14 million after finding it had failed to properly verify users’ ages and had processed children’s personal data without an appropriate lawful basis.
Instead, the regulator has suggested companies consider stronger methods such as:
- Facial age estimation
- Digital ID checks
- One-time photo verification.
Government launches consultation on children’s social media use
Although MPs rejected the ban, the UK government has launched a consultation on children’s use of social media.
The consultation will gather views from parents, young people and experts on whether stricter rules — including potential age restrictions — could improve online safety.
Ministers have not committed to introducing a ban, but the issue remains under active review.
The UK is not alone in examining stricter rules for social media. Australia became the first country to introduce a sweeping ban on social media use for under-16s, which took effect in December. Several European countries are now exploring similar measures, including Spain, France and Denmark.
The growing debate reflects wider concern about how social media platforms affect young people, particularly around addictive design features, harmful content and the collection of personal data.
Campaigners and child safety charities have long argued that platforms must do more. Organisations such as the NSPCC say children are still routinely exposed to harmful content online. Ofcom has said it will publish a report in May examining how platforms have responded to its demands and whether further regulatory action is needed.
Why online safety rules are evolving
Debates about social media regulation also raise wider questions about how platforms handle sensitive user data — particularly when stronger age verification systems are introduced.
While tools such as facial age estimation or identity checks may help keep younger users off platforms, they can also require companies to collect more sensitive personal information.
Recent incidents have shown why this creates concern.
For example, the messaging platform Discord delayed plans to expand stricter age-verification systems globally after significant user backlash. Proposals involved some users submitting video selfies or government ID to confirm their age. Trust in such a system was fragile, particularly after Discord confirmed a data breach in October 2025.
It is in that context that some users are questioning whether platforms can be trusted to hold even more sensitive identity data. As such, the debate highlights a wider challenge for regulators and technology companies alike: how to improve online safety for children without creating new risks around digital identity and personal data.
At Join the Claim, we continue to monitor developments across the technology sector, including regulatory investigations, data protection enforcement and wider debates around digital identity and platform accountability.
