78% support banning under-16s from social media – but majority don’t think it will work
A proposed ban on social media for under-16s may have strong public backing, but a new survey of 1,000 UK adults conducted by The Harris Poll UK, A Stagwell Company, suggests the policy risks offering a false sense of safety rather than meaningful protection for children.
While 78% of UK adults support banning under-16s from social media, only a minority believe such a ban would be effective in practice. Instead, the public anticipates widespread circumvention, digital migration, and increased exposure to riskier online environments.
The findings highlight a growing disconnect between political appetite for decisive action and public scepticism about whether ban can keep young people safe online.
Public expects widespread workarounds
The research reveals a clear expectation that young people would bypass restrictions rather than disengage from the digital world:
75% believe under-16s would lie about their age or use fake identification
72% expect teenagers to find technological workarounds
67% say a ban could push young people towards more dangerous online spaces, including the dark web
Rather than reducing online activity, the public anticipates it would simply become less visible and harder to regulate.
Risk of “digital displacement”
The findings point to a phenomenon The Harris Poll UK describes as digital displacement where behaviour shifts across platforms rather than disappears.
If social media access is restricted:
63% expect teenagers to move to encrypted or private messaging services
56% predict a return to SMS communication
60% anticipate increased time spent on online gaming platforms
59% expect greater use of streaming services
27% believe shopping apps could become new social hubs
This suggests that banning access to mainstream platforms may push young users into environments with fewer safeguards and less oversight.
Balancing protection and participation
The data also reveals a nuanced public perspective on children’s digital lives:
89% agree that safety should be the priority
Two-thirds say children should not be excluded from the online world entirely
72% believe social media is not uniformly harmful
Views on influence are divided, with half of adults saying social media has too much impact on under-16s, while the other half see its influence as moderate or limited.
This reflects broader uncertainty about how to balance protection with participation in an increasingly digital society.
Accountability, not access, is the key concern
Despite scepticism around bans, there is strong consensus on one issue: regulation.
86% of UK adults believe regulators are too weak in holding technology companies accountable
A similar proportion wants stronger enforcement of existing rules
Concerns are not only on content, but on platform design including algorithmic feeds, rapid interaction, and frictionless discovery.
Among major platforms, TikTok is perceived as the greatest risk, cited by 72% of adults, followed by other widely used services such as Instagram and Snapchat.
Steve Brockway, Chief Research Officer, The Harris Poll UK, said:
“Banning under-16s from social media may feel like a clear and decisive solution, but the public is already sceptical about whether it would work. Our research shows people expect young users to find ways around restrictions, potentially pushing them into less visible and more dangerous spaces.
What emerges is not opposition to protecting children (far from it) but concern that a ban alone is unlikely to deliver real safety. The public is sending a clear signal that simply chasing bans is a distraction. Behaviour will reroute, workarounds will flourish, and the risks will simply move elsewhere, until policymakers confront the systemic design choices driving harm through accountability.
Our key takeaway: In this rapidly evolving digital space, companies and brands need to ensure they have a clear purpose and set of values driving their moral compass. Ethical design and intention may become a competitive differentiator of the future, rather than just a compliance checkbox.”
Implications for brands
The findings extend beyond policy into broader expectations of corporate responsibility in the digital ecosystem.
Three key implications stand out:
Safety and wellbeing are becoming trust drivers. Brands connected to youth audiences are increasingly expected to demonstrate active responsibility
Digital behaviour is fluid. If platforms change, audiences will migrate and brands must adapt to shifting ecosystems
Accountability is reputational as well as regulatory. Public scrutiny is intensifying, with transparency and design choices influencing brand perception
-ENDS-
For more information, visit https://www.theharrispoll.co.uk/insights/blog/banning-under-16s-the-illusion-of-safety
Methodology: For this survey, The Harris Poll UK reached out to 1,000 Nat Rep UK adults (18+) in February 2026 and were asked about the social media ban for under 16 year olds.
For press information please contact isobel.walster@koozai.com or 0330 353 0300.
About The Harris Poll UK: The Harris Poll UK, a Stagwell company, is a leading customer experience and consumer insights company helping Britain's best-known companies understand what matters most to their customers. Combining sector expertise with digital research tools, behavioural science, and agile methods, The Harris Poll UK delivers real-time insights from over one million survey responses and 40,000 emotion data points each month.