2 Senior Police Officers Urge UK Government to Restrict Under-16 Access to Social Media

In January, Australia enacted a ban on under-16s using social media, and five million social media accounts linked to children had been removed.

A 14-year-old boy looks at social media at an undisclosed location in Australia on Oct. 24, 2025. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

Two of Britain’s most senior police officers have urged the UK government to restrict the use of social media by under-16s to protect them from harm.

National Crime Agency (NCA) Director General Graeme Biggar and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Chief Constable Gavin Stephens spoke at a briefing for journalists on May 21.