Conservatives pledge to ban social media for under-16s

The Conservatives have said they would ban social media for children under the age of 16.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would raise the "age of consent" to "protect children" from harmful content such as extreme pornography. Politics latest: Minister 'very concerned' by violence in Iran The policy goes a step further than the Tories' previous calls for smartphones to be banned in schools - a position the government has rejected on the grounds that it believes it is for individual schools to stop them being used in classrooms and that most do this anyway.

The Conservatives have said the ban is necessary in light of evidence showing that children are now spending record amounts of time online and are frequently being exposed to violent content, pornography and other extreme material, as well as potentially coming into contact with predatory or exploitative adults. Ms Badenoch said: "As a mum, I know parents are under real pressure online.

"Our policy is simple: clear rules for children, but freedom for grown-ups. This is not about censoring adults or demonising social media companies, it's about helping people to take responsibility.

"Government's role isn't to police speech or tell adults what to think, but it should draw clear, enforceable lines to protect children. A simple age limit for social media does that.

It protects kids properly and stops adults being treated like children. "Our policy draws a clear line for under-16s, while protecting free choice and free speech for adults.

Now the government must act." Asked about the Tories' pledge, Peter Kyle, the business secretary, said: "I don't think this is the right way forward." But he said the government was looking "very intently at Australia.