Social media ban for under-16s would be unenforceable, charity warns Getty Images A child, who is out of focus, looks at a phone held in both hands. On the screen is a folder labelled 'social media' with app icons for Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TruthSocial, TikTok, X, WhatsApp, YouTube and Bluesky.
A social media ban for under-16s would not be enforceable and the government should instead focus on restricting the features that make it addictive, the chief executive of an online safety charity has said. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce shortly whether there will be a social media ban for under-16s as has been introduced in Australia.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation which was set up in memory of Molly Russell, told BBC Breakfast he would be "dismayed" if the UK was to enforce a similar ban as the evidence "doesn't support" it. He said the focus should instead be on banning features such as autoplay, infinite scroll, and the algorithms that "bombard" children with harmful material.
Russell Family Headshot of teenager Molly Russell who is smiling. Molly was 14 when she took her own life in 2017 after being exposed to self-harm content online. Burrows said that parents across the country were looking for "decisive action" from the government and the introduction of "measures that can actually succeed".
This could include enforcing tougher restrictions on features which make social media addictive, such as banning autoplay, infinite scroll, and the algorithms that "bombard" children with harmful material. He said these features contributed to the harm that led to Molly's death.
Burrows said that experts and organisations working on child safety "do not have confidence" in an Australia-style ban for under-16s. Australia introduced the ban in January, but in March, its eSafety Commission found that seven in 10 parents whose children already had a social media account said they were still on the platforms.
Burrows told BBC Breakfast: "In Australia this is not working, it's not something that is enforceable." He added: "This looks like policy making being done on the back of a fag packet and frankly that is incredibly high risk when we are talking about children's safety.
We should be following the evidence." The UK government announced a consultation on children's social media use in January, to examine the most effective ways to ensure young people can remain safe online. It received 116,211 responses. Government ministers have examined a variety of options for restrictions, including a blanket ban or the introduction of screen time limits.
Proponents of a ban have been offering "false hope" to parents, Burrows argued. "I'm looking at all the evidence, the sector is looking at all the evidence, and we just don't see what lessons we can learn from Australia." Ian Russell, Molly's father, told BBC's Newscast in January that the government should enforce existing laws rather than "implementing sledgehammer techniques like bans".
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We cannot see their face but it is illuminated by the phone's screen. Starmer tells Apple and Google to ban nude images on children's phones Firms will be expected to activate built-in features to stop children accessing sexually explicit images. Sir Keir Starmer is stood in front of a blue background and a microphone is visible in front of him.
He is wearing a dark coloured suit jacket, white shirt, a patterned tie and glasses. Starmer preparing to announce social media restrictions for children The prime minister has pledged "decisive" measures in response to calls for an Australia-style ban. Close-up of a smartphone screen displaying social media and messaging apps, including Instagram (with one notification), Facebook, WhatsApp (four notifications), YouTube (50 notifications), Snapchat (16 notifications) and Messenger.
A finger hovers over the screen, appearing about to tap an app. London mayor backs social media ban for under-16s Sir Sadiq Khan says tech firms must prove platforms are safe for kids or be barred. Stacey Olika wearing a peach v neck top and holding a microphone as she smiles to the people she is speaking with, who are not in the picture.
She wears her dark brown hair down, with a fringe and gold hoops in her ears. 'My win is for the people who don't fit the mould' Stacey Olika, 29, from Bristol, is named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The BBC is in multiple languages Read the BBC In your own language Copyright 2026 BBC.
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