Fears UK under-16 social media ban will hurt creators

Plans for a UK-wide ban on social media use by under-16s are drawing early warnings from legal, technology and creator economy figures, who argue that blunt restrictions risk reshaping a growing digital industry while failing to address deeper online safety issues.

The House of Lords has backed proposals for an under-16 ban as part of a wider push on children's online safety and mobile phone use in schools. The move follows similar steps in Australia and comes alongside a new government consultation on children's social media access.

Industry voices now point to risks for the UK's creator economy, practical challenges of age checks, and gaps in the government's current approach.

Creator pipeline

Molly McDonald, founder of London-based Blue Door Productions and a video producer specialising in YouTube, said a strict age bar could have long-term consequences for new British talent and for the wider digital sector.

McDonald highlighted the role teenage years play in the development of social media careers across entertainment, education, gaming, beauty and entrepreneurship. Many leading online creators built early followings and skills while still at school.

"Last year, YouTube content creators alone contributed £2.2bn to the UK economy; as traditional jobs are replaced with automation and AI, new media is creating more viable career paths for young people. A ban could limit the early experimentation and digital literacy that sparks long-term careers, potentially reducing the number of homegrown creators able to compete on a global stage," said Molly McDonald, Founder, Blue Door Productions.

Viewership patterns have shifted towards social platforms and away from broadcast channels and subscription streaming. Industry data shows YouTube now attracts higher consumption than services such as Netflix and Disney Plus for many audiences.

"As audiences migrate from traditional media like television to new platforms, limiting young people's access to creators that entertain and inspire them is just like limiting our generation's access to our favourite presenters and characters," said McDonald.

McDonald also pointed to the wider public debate, which has focused heavily on harms, mental health impacts and offline social development.

Supporters of the ban say restrictions could reduce exposure to harmful content and online abuse. They say it could also lower screen time and encourage more in-person interaction among younger teenagers.

"I want to make it clear that I'm not necessarily opposing the ban but want to draw attention to its wider implications on a rapidly growing industry. While the intentions behind an under-16s social media ban are understandable, young people also deserve the opportunity to learn, create, and participate online in a way that's healthy and well-supported," said McDonald.

Legal concerns

Legal specialists in online safety say the current policy direction risks focusing on surface-level restrictions without addressing underlying systems and design choices on major platforms.

Mark Jones, Partner at law firm Payne Hicks Beach and an expert in online safety harms, said the effectiveness of any new regime would depend on how far it reaches into platform operations and accountability.

"Today's announcement shows welcome intent from the government to tackle the impact of mobile phones and social media on children, but the real test will be whether this translates into meaningful change online rather than headline-friendly interventions.

"There's a risk that focusing too heavily on restriction or guidance alone becomes the digital equivalent of locking the front door while leaving every window wide open. Without robust action on platform design, algorithms and accountability for harmful content, children will continue to encounter risks regardless of where the formal age lines are drawn," said Mark Jones, Partner, Payne Hicks Beach.

Age checks

Technology providers working on digital identity and age assurance expect platforms to face significant implementation choices if a ban proceeds. They also stress the need to keep adult user journeys usable and privacy-focused.

Ricardo Amper, founder and Chief Executive of Incode Technologies, said any legislative shift would quickly raise practical questions for social media products.

"It's important for organisations to consider what this would mean from a real product flow, and what platforms should consider if a policy like this were to move forward so they can be prepared.

"Organisations must have clear definitions and understanding of expectations. Age estimation is not the same as age verification. Understanding which is needed and when, will be critical in order to avoid over-complicating the customer experience.

"Maintaining a positive customer experience is essential. For most users who are clearly above the age threshold, opting for age estimation keeps the experience frictionless. This reduces unnecessary data collection and reduces friction for the majority, while still enforcing policy where it matters.

"Privacy-by-design needs to be explicit. The key consumer questions are: what data is collected? What is actually processed? What is stored? And for how long? With modern implementations, data exposure is minimized to only what is absolutely needed for the age decision. This helps build trust between users and platforms," said Ricardo Amper, Founder and CEO, Incode Technologies.