Half of UK adults back social media ban for under-16s

More than half of UK adults would support a ban on children under 16 accessing social media, according to new polling that highlights a sharp divide over how young people should engage with online platforms.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 51% back an outright ban on under-16s using social media. The research coincides with the introduction of under-16 restrictions in Australia and reflects growing concern in the UK about children's exposure to online harms.

The polling was commissioned by SafetyTech firm Privately SA, which develops age-estimation tools used by some large social media platforms in Australia. The company focuses on methods that estimate a user's age without storing or transmitting images.

The findings suggest that while many adults favour stricter limits, there is also support for more nuanced approaches. Some respondents want platforms to design online environments specifically for younger users rather than exclude them entirely.

Balancing access

Despite the backing for a ban, 42% of those surveyed said children need to be online to learn, socialise and play. Respondents expressed concern about the impact of a blanket prohibition on children's ability to participate in digital life.

There is interest in child-specific services. The research found that 29% of adults want social media platforms to create dedicated experiences for younger users. A further 25% favour stronger guardrails and restrictions for children once their age has been checked.

Privately SA argues that the data reveals a demand for safer, structured experiences for minors rather than a simple on-or-off approach to access.

Deepak Tewari, Chief Executive of Privately SA, said the results reflect a shared dilemma among families and policymakers.

"This research shows UK parents are facing the same dilemma as families worldwide: they expect platforms to ensure far better protections for children but also want those children to benefit from being online," said Deepak Tewari, CEO of Privately SA. "Blanket bans may be the starting point of the debate, but the real opportunity is for platforms to create safe, curated experiences for younger users without excluding them from digital life."

Low awareness

The research points to limited public awareness of existing UK regulation. Only around half of adults surveyed said they had heard of the Online Safety Act, which includes provisions on age assurance and duties on platforms regarding child users.

The Online Safety Act requires services in scope to assess and manage risks to children. It also places expectations on platforms around checking or estimating user age where needed to comply with the law.

The survey suggests that, despite this framework, many adults remain unclear about the legislation and about how platforms intend to meet their obligations.

Privacy concerns

Trust in how online platforms handle personal data appears low. Only 13% of respondents said they trust online services to protect biometric data such as facial images.

That mistrust extends to age-verification methods that rely on sensitive information. Many adults express reservations about sharing official documents or biometric data with large platforms.

Support for age-estimation increases when privacy safeguards are described in more detail. In the survey, 39% of adults said they would accept facial age-estimation if it took place entirely on the user's own device and if no images left the device.

The research also found that 42% of adults feel generally comfortable with age-estimation technology. The results indicate that respondents draw a distinction between approaches that centralise or store biometric data and those that process it locally.

Privately SA's systems run checks on the user's device rather than uploading images to external servers. The company states that the process does not store, upload or share biometric information.

Tewari said there is a need for age-assurance methods that do not rely on collecting large volumes of sensitive data.

"What's needed is privacy-first age assurance that lets platforms know whether a child is using their services without collecting or storing sensitive biometrics or ID information," Tewari added. "On-device age estimation now makes this possible. It's a rights-respecting solution that protects children and their privacy while supporting their digital inclusion."

Privately SA says it has performed millions of on-device age checks during 2025 across 90 countries, including the UK and Australia. The company is working with social platforms that are adjusting their services for younger users in response to regulatory and public pressure over online safety.