New evidence shows social media bans will fail to protect young users

Proposals to impose a blanket ban on social media use for under-16s risk being “disproportionate” and ineffective, according to the Consumer Choice Centre (CCC), as the UK Government weighs new online safety measures.

The warning comes as Sir Keir Starmer meets major technology companies in Downing Street to discuss child protection and digital regulation, amid growing political pressure to tighten restrictions on young users’ access to social platforms.

Mike Salem, UK Country Associate at the Consumer Choice Centre (CCC), said: “Blaming the tool instead of the misuse is a classic mistake. Technology is not the problem. How it is used, and whether rules are properly enforced, is what matters. If existing laws are not being enforced, adding new ones won’t fix the issue.

International evidence already shows that bans don’t work as intended. In Australia, the majority of young people continued to access social media despite restrictions, and many reported no improvements in their online safety. That should be a warning against headline-driven policy.

What’s needed is smarter enforcement, digital literacy, and real accountability for bad actors, not sweeping restrictions that limit access and risk pushing young users into less transparent, less regulated spaces. ”

The CCC argues that outright bans could undermine consumer choice while failing to deliver meaningful improvements in child safety online. It cites international evidence suggesting that prohibition-based approaches are often circumvented by young users and do not fully address underlying risks.

Referring to measures in Australia, the group claims that 61% of 12–15-year-olds who previously used social media continued to access accounts despite restrictions, while 51% reported no improvement in their online safety. It says this indicates that enforcement-based bans may simply push activity into less visible or less regulated spaces.

The organisation is expected to submit a formal response to the Government’s consultation on online safety, urging ministers to focus on enforcement of existing rules, platform accountability, and digital literacy rather than sweeping restrictions.

The CCC further warns that broad prohibitions risk unintended consequences, including reduced transparency, weaker innovation, and diminished parental oversight, as young users may shift to alternative or less regulated services.

Instead, it argues for a “proportionate” policy approach that balances child protection with access to widely used digital services, emphasising education, targeted regulation, and stronger enforcement against harmful content and behaviour.

The debate comes as policymakers across Europe and beyond grapple with how to regulate children’s access to social media, with governments increasingly weighing stricter age controls against concerns about feasibility and effectiveness.