18/01/2026
The evidence of the harm social media is doing to children’s attainment, behaviour and wellbeing is now impossible to ignore.
When it comes to children, we have always taken a precautionary approach.
We restrict alcohol and ci******es, because we know they are not safe for children.
But when it comes to smartphones and social media, we have totally abandoned this.
Children are being exposed to extreme violent content, sexual material and online strangers in ways that would never be accepted in the real world.
Offline, no parent would tolerate it. Yet online, age protections have been allowed to drift away.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can and must do more.
Parents must always be the first line of defence but we know that parents are crying out for support, because they can not act alone. They want the Government's help so they do not isolate their own child.
That is why a future Conservative government will restrict social media to only those aged 16 and over to help families and protect childhood.
But this cannot wait until 2029, we have a chance to make a change now.
So on Wednesday we are forcing a vote in Parliament.
Tell Labour you want action now by signing our petition.
This is not about censoring adults or waging war on technology.
Conservatives have always acted to protect children, while allowing adults to go about their lives freely.
But government does have a duty to set clear, enforceable rules that help parents and put children first.
We should also be honest about how these platforms work. Many are deliberately engineered to be addictive, feeding anxiety, comparison and constant distraction.
When children’s attention and wellbeing become the business model, parents are left fighting a losing battle.
This policy also sits alongside our commitment to ban mobile phones in schools.
Together they reflect a simple Conservative principle: children need space to learn, concentrate and mature before being pushed into adult pressures and adult content.
We want to support parents, not sideline them. And we want to protect freedom for adults while giving children the chance of a healthy upbringing.
Protecting childhood matters for society and for our economy.
Children who are constantly distracted, anxious or sleep-deprived find it harder to learn, thrive and, later in their life, find job opportunities.
Safeguarding childhood is one of the most responsible investments we can make in a healthier and more resilient workforce.
If you agree, and want Labour to act now, please sign our petition and urge them to ban social media for under-16s.
sign the petition, please.
https://www.whatlaboursaid.com/get-children-off-social-media?dm_i=7XP6,2GWAT,4YUOI0,5799C,1,,,