For some people, screens and being online are as much a threat as they are an opportunity.

Parents worry how being online might be affecting their children and are concerned for their safety. Teachers see it more as a disruption than a learning tool. And for some young people, being online is stressful, and can bring about anxiety.

There are many underlying reasons, from online moderation of social platforms to addiction to phones and doomscrolling. In 2025, we began to see pushback from those who were worried about the impact of screens and social media. Below we explore some of the actions taken at that point, and what has developed since.

Australia Bans Social Media for Under 16s

In November 2025, Australia announced that it had banned those under 16 years old from using TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, Snapchat, Threads , X and more.

Existing profiles were deactivated, and no new accounts could be set up by those under 16.

The move came as the platforms were described as having “design features that encourage young people to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm health and wellbeing.” The Australian Government said the ban was aimed at protecting under 16s from content that might harm them, and other dangers such as cyberbullying and grooming.

Under the new law, social media companies must enforce the ban, rather than the responsibility being with the parent or child.

UK Social Media Ban Consultation

Australia’s ban on social media platforms for under 16s was a world’s first, but it is unlikely to be the last. Many feel that the platforms don’t do enough to moderate the content in their communities, and discussions about bans in other countries have already begun.

MPs in the UK voted against a similar ban here in March 2026. A consultation was launched to gather the views of young people and their parents/guardians on whether an outright ban for under 16 year olds should be considered.

You can read the thoughts of Scottish Youth Parliament Chair Ellie Craig on a social media ban here.

Mobile Phone Bans in School

Government and local authorities in the UK are considering whether to introduce a ban on the use of mobile phones in school.

The aim is to avoid distractions such as notifications and social media during learning, and to cut down instances of filming being used to bully other pupils.

Portobello High School and Queensferry High School in Edinburgh have piloted asking pupils to store their phones in a magnetically-locked pouch, and City of Edinburgh Council ran a five-week consultation in early 2026 on a mobile phone ban in schools, which gathered broad support in favour of the ban.