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There have been calls for greater focus on the practices of social media companies
There is insufficient evidence to suggest a social media ban for under‑16s would help keep children safer online, Scotland's children's commissioner has said.
Nicola Killean warned a ban could drive children to less regulated or riskier parts of the internet, and said the focus should instead be on holding social media companies to account.
She was responding to the UK government's consultation on whether to introduce a minimum age for accessing online platforms, including social media.
"A ban does little to address underlying issues such as exploitative algorithms, and business models that drive harmful content and engagement," she said.
Ahead of submitting her response, the commissioner's office carried out a children's rights impact assessment examining how the proposals could affect children and young people, both positively and negatively.
Her team also worked with a group of young advisers aged between 12 and 17 from across Scotland.
"Evidence shows that social media can expose children to serious risks, including harmful content, cyberbullying, manipulation, contact from strangers, exploitation and excessive use," said Killean.
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
Nicola Killean warned that social media ban for under-16s could actually cause harm
But she added that it can also play an important role in children's lives "by supporting communication, self-expression, access to information, participation, play, and connection with communities and support networks".
She added: "The evidence so far on bans is limited, mixed, and still emerging.
"Blanket restrictions can risk shifting responsibility away from platforms and onto children."
Killean also warned a ban could impact on some youngsters more than others.
The commissioner said it could more negatively impact those in rural and remote areas, those with family overseas, disabled children and those who rely on online communities for support with their identity.
In her recommendations, Killean called for greater focus on platform design and accountability, and a crack-down on harmful features.
She also said rules should reflect children's age and maturity, and that young people should be directly involved in shaping future policy.
Any new age limit should not weaken existing safeguards, she added.
What is the UK consultation looking at?
The UK government launched its "Growing up in the online world" consultation in March 2026 to examine how to better protect children online.
It is considering whether to introduce a legal minimum age for social media, alongside limits on features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling, and stronger age checks.
The review forms part of wider efforts to build on the Online Safety Act, with ministers saying it will help shape future laws on how young people use the internet.
More than 81,000 responses were submitted before the consultation closed. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged ministers will take swift action once the findings have been analysed.
Speaking earlier this week, Sir Keir said: "I'll be really clear, the question now is not whether we do something, we are going to act.
"I'm absolutely clear that this needs to be something where there's a game-changer."
He added: "The question is only what we do, and that will be coming very quickly, because we took powers earlier this year to make sure we can act very, very quickly."
