In March 2026, the UK Government launched a consultation on how to improve children’s relationships with mobile phones and social media. It links to wider work under the Online Safety Act 2023 to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and improve digital wellbeing. The consultation considers measures, including whether those under the age of 16 should be banned from social media.

This blog gives more information about the consultation, what it covers, how to get involved, and supporting resources.

Who can respond?

The consultation will seek views from children and young people, parents and carers, professionals, and civil society organisations across the UK, via:

• Full consultation (for anyone)
• Survey for children and young people (aged 10-21)
• Survey for parents and carers (of young people 21 and under)

Closing date: 11.59 pm on 26th May 2026.

What does the consultation cover?

Views are being sought on the following:

• Restricting access to social media by age (Including bans for under-16s)
• Stronger age verification/age enforcement
• Restricting harmful/addictive platform designs (e.g. infinite scroll, algorithms)
• Children’s use of Artificial Intelligence
• Raising the Digital Age of Consent (Age child can legally agree to personal data being collected and used online)
• Mobile phones in schools
• Developing digital skills and media literacy
• Support for parents

What might the potential local implications be?

Potential benefits 

• Reduced child exposure to harmful/age-inappropriate content
• More time for offline, wellbeing enhancing activities (sleep, physical activity)
• Clear national guidance on digital life, enabling consistency of messaging across GGC
  Opportunities for digital literacy and prevention work
• Chance for local experiences/service realities to influence UK policy

Potential harms 

• Safeguarding – if children shift to less regulated online spaces
• Child mental health – distress, frustration, loss of supportive communities
• Workforce pressures – losing access to key engagement channels, tensions around phone-free expectations in schools
• Family conflict, increased requests for staff support on digital behaviour
• Inequalities – disproportionate effects on particular groups of children, such as those who are neurodiverse, disabled, or isolated

NHSGGC’s response

NHSGGC will submit an organisational response focusing on the public health implications for children and young people in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, within the limits of NHS responsibilities.

• If you’d like to share insights, you can:
• Fill in our online form
• Join the Aye Mind Digital Collaborative discussion session, 14th April, 10.00 – 11.30 am (MS Teams), email ggc.mhead@nhs.scot to join

Please note: This process doesn’t replace or submit individual responses to the UK Government consultation. We’d encourage you to still participate in the UK Government’s consultation.

Supporting Resources

As attention on children’s online lives grows, organisations may receive more questions from young people and families. Listed below are resources to support digital wellbeing and online safety:

• Online Harms Resources, Helplines, and Websites – Information on supports for a range of online harms
• Young Scot DigiKnow – Information for children and young people on gaming, AI, or how to stay safe online
• NSPCC – Online safety resources, guidance and training to help create and maintain safer online spaces for children
• UK Safer Internet Centre – Information and advice for children and young people, parents/carers, and professionals on online safety
• Internet Matters – Helping families keep their children safe online
• ParentZone – Advice to help families and professionals navigate online safety and media literacy
• DSIT ‘You Won’t Know Until You Ask’ campaign – UK Government campaign supporting parents to talk about harmful online content