Kemi Badenoch says Tories will ban under-16s from social media. | Politics news
Conservative government will ban under-16s from using social media
Kemi Badenoch said the Conservative government will ban under-16s from using social media to stop them spending hours on “addictive” sites. The Tory leader vowed to introduce age limits on social media apps if his party wins the next general election.
He argued that we should not leave children in the “Wild West” of the Internet and advocated for enhanced protections for them. The mother of three told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the platforms were profiting from children’s “anxiety” and “distraction” and were “designed to be addictive”.
The Conservatives said tech companies like TikTok and Snapchat would be required to use age checks that don’t rely on government digital IDs.
It comes as teachers’ union NASUWT said the government should bring in laws that would prevent big tech platforms from blocking children from accessing their platforms. In Australia, a ban on social media for under-16s came into effect in December.
Mrs Badenoch said, “What we want to see is common sense – protection for children and freedom for adults. We want to give parents some sense that the government understands what they are doing. That’s why we want to bring in the age limit.”
Following her interview, Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, wrote, X: “I find myself agreeing with everything Kemi Badenoch is saying about children and social media. I feel that parents would welcome a cross-party consensus for more bold action.”
NASUWT surveyed 5,800 teacher members in 2025 and found that four in five (81%) reported an increase in the number of pupils displaying violent and abusive behaviour.
Nearly three in five (59%) of respondents in the same survey said they believed social media was one of the factors behind worsening behaviour. In a separate survey of 300 members, NASUWT found that 89% said they would support statutory social media bans for under-16s.
Former schools minister Lord Nash said, “I strongly welcome Kemi Badenoch’s bold step to put children first. Raising the age limit for social media is now being supported across all political parties, including Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, the NEU and NASUWT.
“The evidence is abundant and the political support is there. The government should support my amendment and begin to reverse the devastating harm it is causing to a generation of children.”
A government spokesperson said, “We support headteachers to take the necessary steps to prevent disruption in their schools – supported by our guidance, the vast majority already restrict phone use during the school day so that they do not disrupt learning.
“Through the Online Safety Act, we have taken some bold steps to ensure children have an age-appropriate online experience anywhere in the world, mandating that social media companies protect children under 18 from harmful content.
“We are striking the right balance: protecting children from harm and ensuring they can safely benefit from the digital world.”
