Recommendation 15

There is a compelling case for an outright statutory ban on social media access for under-16s in order to reset the relationship children and families have with digital devices and social media, and to arrest the current harm. The evidence demonstrates that current regulatory and voluntary approaches have failed to prevent widespread exposure of children to serious harm, and that targeted or optional mitigations have not been implemented consistently or effectively. A clear legal boundary would provide greater protection for children, clarity for parents and carers, and schools, and a stronger basis for holding platforms to account for the environments they create. (Conclusion, Paragraph 32)