Teenagers in the United Kingdom have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a proposed Australia-style social media ban for users under the age of 16, according to recent polling data. Australia became the first country to implement such a ban last year, and the UK government, under the direction of Andy Burnham and following initiatives by former Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, plans to introduce similar restrictions.

The survey conducted by YouGov reveals that over 40% of young people believe that this kind of ban would make little to no difference to their online safety, while 42% anticipate a positive impact. Among 12 to 15-year-olds specifically, only 28% think the measure would benefit their mental wellbeing.

Advocates for child online safety argue that the UK government should adopt more comprehensive approaches similar to those used in Canada and the European Union. These models focus on requiring social media platforms to build safety features into their products by design, addressing harmful and addictive functionalities across various apps and games, rather than simply barring access based on age. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, a suicide prevention charity named after a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful content online, emphasized that the Australian-style ban "won’t improve safety and wellbeing" and called for a "smarter ban."

The UK government plans to formalize the ban by the end of this year, with enforcement beginning in spring 2027. Exemptions are likely to be made for educational platforms. Officials have committed to introducing legally binding requirements for robust age verification to prevent children from bypassing restrictions. In addition, the regulations will target specific harmful features such as live streaming and communication with strangers.

Paddy Crump from FlippGen, a youth-led nonprofit focused on digital wellbeing, commented that young people are sophisticated users of digital technology who seek balanced regulation rather than simple prohibitions. He described the younger generation as "savvy and nuanced," expressing a preference for safety measures that do not involve blunt bans.

A government spokesperson highlighted that the UK’s approach goes beyond Australia’s by embedding legal obligations on platforms to maintain stricter controls, aiming to enhance protections against online harms and safeguard children more effectively.