Social Media Ban: 8 Ways Parents Can Prepare Teens

The Government has announced plans to bar under-16s from social media. It follows growing worry from parents, schools and campaigners about harmful content, cyberbullying and apps designed to keep young people hooked. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it a big step and a real change for children and their future.

School leaders have welcomed the move, but they are quick to add that a social media ban will not solve everything on its own. Here is what they suggest families do in the meantime.

Why schools say a ban is only part of the answer

The Girls Day School Trust, which educates over 19,000 pupils across England and Wales, says the announcement reflects real concern about confidence, wellbeing and childhood development.

Jo Sharrock, Head of Putney High School, describes social media as intentionally addictive. Her school brought in phone pouches to create a phone-free day, and she says staff have seen less anxiety, better concentration, more active play and fewer friendship problems linked to online life. From September 2026, all GDST schools will extend a phone-free environment to pupils up to Year 11.

Dr May Lee, Head of Northampton High School, says pupils are more balanced than adults often assume. They value staying in touch and discovering new interests, but they also admit these apps can leave them tired, anxious or exposed to bullying. She would like the government to press technology firms hard to make platforms safer by design, with stricter age checks and accountability for harmful content.

Preparing for the social media ban: eight things to start now

Julie Keller, Head of Nottingham Girls’ High School GDST, points to research showing that parental involvement is one of the most effective ways to build healthy digital habits. These are the steps the trust recommends.

• Keep phones out of bedrooms. Charging them elsewhere overnight helps sleep and cuts late-night scrolling.
• Make mealtimes screen-free. Conversation and regular phone-free family time strengthen relationships.
• Do not rush. Wanting an app is not the same as needing it, so think carefully before allowing age-restricted platforms.
• Know what they are looking at. Go through privacy settings and app use together, aiming for openness rather than spying.
• Set boundaries and keep to them. Clear rules stop devices becoming the default for every spare moment.
• Encourage other activities. Sport, music, reading, drama, volunteering and hobbies build confidence away from screens.
• Talk more, confiscate less. Young people are likelier to share problems if they do not expect to lose their device straight away.
• Explain how it works. Show them how algorithms are built to hold attention, shape opinions and affect self-image.

Education still matters

Restrictions may delay access, but young people will meet these platforms eventually. They will need the knowledge and critical thinking to handle them well. Julie Keller puts it as a question of helping students live in a world where social media exists, rather than simply being for or against it.

Making the changes stick

None of these steps needs special equipment, and most are about habit rather than rules. It helps if adults follow them too, because a phone-free mealtime is much easier to keep going when everyone puts their device down together.

It is also worth starting small. Pick one or two changes, such as phones charging outside bedrooms and screen-free dinners, and give the family a few weeks to settle in before adding more. The aim, as the school leaders see it, is a calmer and more confident relationship with technology, with the conversation staying open throughout.

The hope is that teenagers grow into creators and leaders with technology, not just viewers and consumers. Starting good habits at home now is a gentle way to get there.