Children: Social Media

Baroness Berger Excerpts

Wednesday 10th December 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Berger]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to introducing a ban on social media for all children under the age of 16 similar to the one to be introduced in Australia on 10 December.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)]

We understand parents’ concerns about the impact of social media on children. We have taken some of the boldest steps globally to ensure that online content is genuinely age appropriate. It is important that we protect children while also letting them benefit safely from the digital world. We are closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions. When it comes to children’s safety, nothing is off the table, but any action must be based on robust evidence.

[Baroness Berger (Lab)]

My Lords, our children and young people are living through an experiment imposed on them by platforms that are profiting off their stress, their lack of sleep and their diminished self-worth. I welcome the Australian Government taking action to address the urgency and gravity of this issue. I listened closely to my noble friend the Minister. The impact on teenagers in this country is getting worse, not improving. Will the UK follow Australia, Norway, Denmark, Malaysia and the EU, and impose a ban on under-16s?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

We are taking serious action here in the UK through the Online Safety Act. We are also looking very carefully at the evidence that is available about the impacts of social media, screen time and media use on children’s development. At the moment, we do not see a causal relationship between screen time, social media use and children’s development, but we are committed to improving this evidence base. We are looking very closely at what other countries are doing, particularly Australia, with which we have an MoU.