PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk

Ban social media for under 16s

Protect children now. Introduce immediate legislation banning access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, with strict enforcement and penalties for breaches. We think this would help stop instances like the "blue vs red" conflict on social media led by school kids.

Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk

Signatures

161

signatures

Government response threshold (10,000) · 161/10,000

Debate threshold (100,000) · 161/100,000

Background

We ask the Government to legislate the following without delay:
A mandatory minimum age of 16 for all social media platforms operating in the UK.
Compulsory and verifiable age verification systems enforced by law.
Escalating sanctions for repeat breaches, including service restrictions or bans.
Independent oversight to audit compliance and protect children’s safety and wellbeing.