The UK government is considering banning social media for under 16s, according to Tech Secretary Peter Kyle. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today program, Kyle said "everything is on the table" when asked about a potential ban, citing concerns over online harms and child safety.

The move comes after the government warned it may toughen laws for tech platforms in the wake of summer riots that were perceived to have been fueled by online disinformation. The Online Safety Act (OSA), passed last year, targets a range of online harms, including cyberbullying, hate speech, and intimate image abuse, with a focus on child safeguarding.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has set out its priorities for enforcement of the OSA, with child safety at the top of the list. The government is also launching a "feasibility study" to explore the effects of smartphone and social media use on children, aiming to bolster research and strengthen the evidence needed to build a safer online world.