Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Media Ban

Wednesday 4 February 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Fred Thomas asked about the potential ban on social media for under-16s, citing Spain's recent announcement and the need to protect children.
  • Liz Jarvis raised concerns about social media use during school hours affecting teaching and learning environments.
  • The Education Secretary has issued new guidance requiring Ofsted inspections to check on phone usage in schools.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fred Thomas Lab Plymouth Moor View
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Spain has announced a ban on social media for under-16s, with France and Australia also taking steps in this direction. Expectations are that Spain will begin passing legislation soon.

Question

Every day that children are exposed to harmful and addictive content is another day of preventable harm. Yesterday, the Spanish PM, Pedro Sánchez, announced that Spain will ban social media for under-16s, pledging to protect children there from the digital wild west. Expectations are that the Government in Spain will begin passing legislation next week. Meanwhile, we know about France and Australia. There is accelerating momentum from our allies to move quickly and decisively on this issue. Can the Secretary of State confirm, as was indicated by a Minister in the other place a couple of weeks ago, that the Government are taking steps so that a ban could be introduced here at pace through secondary legislation, subject to the results of the consultation?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

I am not one for hanging about. I want to act swiftly, and we will do whatever is possible on the basis of the consultation and the decisions we take to act as swiftly as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm or deny steps towards secondary legislation but stated a commitment to swift action based on evidence from the consultation.

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Q2 Liz Jarvis Lib Dem Eastleigh
Education
Context

A headteacher in Eastleigh is concerned about the impact of social media use during school hours and has trialled a new app that minimises distractions by controlling access to non-essential apps.

Question

I recently met a headteacher in my constituency who told me that social media use during school hours has reached the stage where some schools are weighing up budgeting for and investment in schemes to reduce phone distraction against investing into additional teaching staff. Her school is trialling the use of a new app that minimises distractions by controlling access to non-essential apps during the school day. Other schools have a system of secure phone-locking bags, but they are expensive. Before the results of the Department’s consultation are published, what interim measures is the Secretary of State considering to help schools to manage pupils’ access to social media on mobile phones?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

My right hon. Friend the Education Secretary has made it clear, with new guidance and a requirement on Ofsted to inspect, that phones should not be used in schools. That is the action we are taking, because we think that is the right way forward. That is what teachers want. I know that some schools have found it difficult handling these issues with young people and parents, but the position of this Government—that we should not have phones being used in schools—is absolutely crystal clear.

Answered
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