New GGF polling shows overwhelming public support for ban on social media for under-16s as Government announces consultation

Two thirds (66%) back Australia-style ban, with strong cross-party support.

The Good Growth Foundation is calling on the Government to introduce a clear, enforceable ban on social media for children under the age of 16. This comes as an increasing number of young people are out of work due to poor mental health. Overall, nearly one million young people are not in employment, education or training.

Social media use is linked to anxiety, depression and other mental health problems in children and young people.  

New polling by the Good Growth Foundation shows overwhelming public support for a ban on social media use for under-16s, following the model recently adopted in Australia. 

The polling finds that 66% of the public support a legal ban on social media for children under the age of 16, including majorities across all major political parties. 

Support spikes among those who voted for Labour at the 2024 election but would now consider voting for Reform UK, with 75% backing a ban, while 70% of current Reform voters, 69% of current Labour voters and 78% of current Conservative voters would back the measure. 

Recent developments on X, in which the Government hit back at Musk for controversies surrounding the AI tool Grok, and a letter signed by over 60 Labour MPs backing a social media ban for under-16s, has shone a further light on the debate.

Good Growth Foundation Director of Strategy Louisa Dollimore said:

“This overwhelming public support for a social media ban for children comes at a time when a growing number of young people are leaving school and falling out of work due to mental health problems. 

“There is mounting evidence that social media piles pressures onto young people, and we don’t yet know how that’s affecting their opportunities and life chances. We have a crisis with one million young people not in employment, education or training. If we are serious about shifting the dial on the spiraling mental health crisis among children and young adults, we must be prepared to take decisive action.”