'Strong case' for social media ban on children, says home secretary - but police won't be involved

25 January 2026, 10:23 | Updated: 25 January 2026, 11:12

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said there is a "strong case" for banning under-16s from social media.

While the government does not yet have an official position on an Australian-style ban on children accessing the platforms, Ms Mahmood's intervention makes it more likely.

However, as the minister responsible for policing, the home secretary rejected the idea that officers would be used to regulate any ban.

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A consultation has been launched by the government on the use of social media by young people, and is expected to report back later this year with recommendations.

The Lords this week passed an amendment calling for a ban, which may be tricky for the Commons to defeat depending on the mood within the Parliamentary Labour Party.

On Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Ms Mahmood was asked if officers would start policing teenagers' bedrooms.

She told Sky News: "The government's position is there's going to be a genuine open consultation.

"And of course, the Australians have moved to a ban.

"I think there is a strong case for a ban, by the way, because I think that social media environment poses huge dangers for our young people at a time when their characters, their personalities, their minds are forming.

"I think we should take a second look at the sort of environment that we let our children grow up in.

"That is the nation's business."

Ms Mahmood will on Monday unveil a set of proposals to overhaul policing in the UK.

As she made the case for the reforms, the home secretary indicated she did not want to see police officers getting involved in complaints around social media posts.