Social media bans for under 16s in Scotland, the UK and Europe

Date: 10th July 2026
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Across Europe and the UK, governments are increasingly considering blanket social‑media bans for under‑16s, with the UK Government announcing a blanket ban to be put into place soon. Children’s rights organisations have warned these measures could offer false reassurance and fail to address the real causes of online harm.

In the UK, the national consultation Growing Up in the Online World explored a ban for under‑16s. This closed on 26th May. UK Government announced a blanket ban on social media for under 16s, only two weeks after the national consultation closed.

UK Government has framed this action as “giving children back their childhood”, and said to follow in the steps of the Australian social media ban.

Scotland

Scotland’s Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Nicola Killean, warned there is not enough evidence to justify banning social media for under 16s. She noted that bans may isolate young people or push them onto less regulated platforms, increasing risk. She called instead for stronger platform accountability and better enforcement of existing laws.

Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) also did not support a blanket ban, urging the government to work with children and young people to create nuanced, evidence‑based policy.

Europe

Eurochild has argued that Europe already has strong laws — the DSA and GDPR — but they are poorly enforced. Instead of bans, it called for:

• safe‑by‑design platforms

• bans on manipulative design and behavioural ads to minors

• default‑high privacy settings

• tools that help children pause before sharing risky content

Eurochild stressed that children value being online for learning, creativity, friendships, and support, and must be involved in shaping digital policy.

Conclusion

Across children’s rights organisations in the UK and Europe there is one consistent message: Protecting children online requires systemic change – not simple bans.

Real safety will come from platform responsibility, rights‑respecting design, and meaningful engagement with young people, not from cutting children off from the digital spaces they rely on.

• Read Eurochild’s full article on social media bans

• Find out more about the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland statement on a potential social media ban

• Read more about Together’s ‘Growing up in an online world a national consultation’ response

• Read the Government’s Press release about the social media ban for under 16’s