MPs renew demand for social media ban for children amid warning 'addictive' apps causing harm in young people

MPs today demanded a social media ban for children, warning “addictive design” apps are exposing young people to serious harms.

The Commons Education Committee called for a statutory ban on social media for children alongside restrictions on features including infinite scrolling, disappearing messages and algorithm driven content designed to keep youngsters online for longer.

The proposals were made in the committee’s response to the Government’s “Growing up in the online world” consultation on protecting children online.

Their report will pile fresh pressure on ministers to go further in tackling the impact of smartphones and social media on Britain’s children.

In a report released today the cross-party committee warned children face a “deluge of serious harms” online including bullying, misogyny, abuse, and sexual exploitation.

The MPs said the harms are “severe and systemic” and linked to poorer sleep, reduced attention spans, and behavioural problems, alongside concerns over children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The intervention comes as ministers face growing pressure to toughen online safety laws and curb children’s smartphone use.

The Government has also pledged to put school mobile phone guidance on a statutory footing.

Under the Online Safety Act, tech firms face legal duties to protect children from harmful content, with Ofcom able to issue large fines for breaches.

But critics argue the law does not go far enough in tackling platform design aimed at maximising engagement.

They blame smart phones for spiralling mental health problems among children - NHS figures show around one in five now has a probable condition compared to 1 in 9 in 2017.

The committee said tech firms had failed to take enough responsibility for harms experienced by children online.

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"Social media organisations’ reliance on incremental improvements, voluntary measures and shared responsibility falls way short of the level of accountability that is required to address the scale and seriousness of the risks faced by children online,” MPs said.

The report urged ministers to treat online harms as a safeguarding and public health issue and require platforms to prioritise “safety by design”.

MPs also backed tougher school phone rules, saying schools should either ban phones entirely or require pupils to lock them away during the day.

Committee chair Helen Hayes MP said: “From bullying and misogyny to abuse and sexual exploitation, children and young people growing up today face a deluge of serious harms whenever they log on to social media. The same platforms that connect them to their friends, or introduce them to new hobbies, are putting their mental health and wellbeing at risk.

“In the most extreme cases, inaction can have truly horrific consequences. Yet social media companies have not taken full responsibility for the behaviour on their platforms. Based on the evidence my Committee has received, I simply do not believe that companies who profit from interactions with children can be relied upon to self-regulate.

“In schools, mobile phone use can distract children, increase the risk of behavioural problems, and ultimately undermine their education. Ministers must take action before it is too late.”

However, opponents of a statutory ban warned the move could hand too much power to the state and be impossible to enforce.

Baroness Claire Fox, a critic of online censorship measures, says politicians risk creating a “moral panic” around young people’s internet use and warned against sweeping restrictions on freedom online.

She also argues parents, rather than Governments or tech regulators, should take primary responsibility for children’s screen use and online behaviour.

The committee itself stressed a ban should be seen only as a starting point rather than a complete solution.

MPs said tougher regulation should also apply across gaming platforms, messaging apps, and AI chatbots increasingly used by children.

Children’s charities and campaigners have repeatedly warned about rising cases of online grooming, exploitation and harmful content targeting young people.

The NSPCC recently highlighted growing concerns around “sextortion” scams involving children being blackmailed over explicit images shared online.