How do young people feel about the U16 social media ban?
- Posted on January 24, 2026
- By The Independent
- 4 Views
How do young people feel about the U16 social media ban?

The UK government has begun consulting on a possible Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s, citing rising concerns about mental health, online abuse and harmful content. The Independent visited Flippgenn’s The Table, a youth-led discussion on online safety, to hear what young people think about it, with some branding the proposals as "attacking the symptoms rather than the root cause.” 16-year-old Jaan said, “I’ve had leukemia for three years. During the whole process, I felt incredibly isolated... connecting with friends through social media has helped me so much.” The Independent takes a closer look at an issue dividing the generations.