Commissioner Expresses Disappointment Over Social Media Ban
Scotland's children's commissioner has expressed disappointment regarding Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement that children under 16 across the UK will be prohibited from using social media by spring 2027.
Nicola Killean cautioned that such a ban "may inadvertently push children to less regulated or riskier parts of the internet."
She further stated that the ban is not a "proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children's rights."
Announcing the policy, the prime minister affirmed his conviction that a "full ban is the right choice."
"Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy," he said.
He added that it was "making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse" children and "could even be harming their mental health – exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that's what grabs the attention."
Research and Impact Assessment Findings
However, Killean noted that her office conducted research prior to the announcement and found that "the available evidence does not currently show a blanket ban would make children safer online."
She elaborated,
"As part of the government's consultation, we undertook a children's rights impact assessment, which found a social media ban for under-16s would not currently be a proportionate, effective, or enforceable way to protect children's rights."
Killean acknowledged that social media can expose children to serious risks such as harmful content, cyberbullying, manipulation, contact from strangers, exploitation, and excessive use. However, she emphasized that social media also plays an important role in many children's lives by supporting communication, self-expression, access to information, participation, play, and connection with communities and support networks.
She also highlighted that the ban could disproportionately affect certain groups of children.
"Children in rural areas, children with family overseas, disabled children, and children who rely on online spaces for identity, support, or community may be particularly affected," she said.
Killean stressed the need for increased accountability of social media companies, particularly regarding "addictive and exploitative features."
Concerns About Driving Children to Riskier Online Spaces
She advocated for platforms to be modified to be suitable for children rather than banning children outright.
"Platforms should change so they are suitable for children, rather than children simply being banned from them," she added.
Killean emphasized the importance of children feeling safe to report harmful content without fear of repercussions.
"It is crucial that children know that they can report harmful content without repercussions and must not feel they are to blame or that they are doing something wrong."
She warned of the risk that children might be driven to "darker places on the internet" and stop communicating with adults about what they encounter online.
Reactions from Children's Charity and Government Officials
Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Scotland's national children's charity Children First, welcomed the plans but indicated that further measures are necessary.
"Given children are likely to find ways around a ban, they will continue to be harmed unless tech companies are forced to implement changes to ensure their products are safe from the start," she said.
"Bans on social media and smartphones in schools can begin to shift cultural norms, but they will not fix a system designed to maximise profit and ignore protection."
She urged both the UK and Scottish governments to hold tech companies to account and drive a comprehensive public health response to digital harm.
Minister for Children and Young People Siobhian Brown called for "more clarity" on the practical implications of the proposals.
She added that the plans should not be "rushed through without a clear plan for actually holding social media companies accountable for their failures to protect children."
"Scottish ministers have been clear that social media companies have a fundamental responsibility to enforce their own policies on harmful content, and the UK government must now set out how Ofcom will use its full regulatory powers to enforce change," she said.
