Sources confirm that Health Secretary Wes Streeting has thrown his weight behind a blanket ban on social media for under-16s, as the government wraps up what it calls a landmark consultation on children's online safety. The move, if enacted, would be one of the most aggressive curbs on digital platforms in the Western world.
Documents leaked to this newsroom show Streeting arguing that the evidence of harm to young people is now overwhelming. He cited internal NHS data showing a 52% spike in adolescent anxiety and depression referrals linked to platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The Health Secretary is said to have told cabinet colleagues that waiting for tech companies to self-regulate is like 'asking arsonists to design the fire brigade.'
The consultation, which closed last week, received over 24,000 submissions from parents, teachers and child psychologists. A government source described the response as 'a damning indictment of corporate failure.' The source added: 'Ministers are now convinced that a statutory ban is the only proportionate response.'
But the move has already sparked a furious backlash from free speech campaigners and tech lobbyists. One industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that a ban would push young people onto unregulated, encrypted platforms where grooming and exploitation are rampant. 'You're not solving the problem. You're just moving it underground,' they said.
Nevertheless, the political momentum appears unstoppable. Streeting's backing is seen as crucial, given his reputation as a centrist who rarely endorses outright bans. His intervention follows a series of high-profile inquests into child suicides linked to online bullying and harmful content.
Under the proposed framework, social media companies would be legally required to age-verify all users, with fines of up to 10% of global turnover for non-compliance. Critics argue this will drive smaller platforms out of business while leaving giants like Meta and ByteDance barely scratched.
A leaked government impact assessment, obtained by this paper, admits the ban could cost the UK economy up to £4.2 billion in lost advertising and innovation. But it concludes that the social cost of inaction is far higher.
The final decision rests with Prime Minister, who is expected to announce the government's response next month. With Streeting now onside, the betting is that the ban will go ahead. As one Downing Street insider put it: 'The era of Silicon Valley impunity is ending. We are drawing a line.'
We have seen this before. Every time a child dies, ministers promise to 'do something.' This time, they might actually mean it.
