IWF warns under-16 social media ban is not enough to stop online abuse
Child protection experts at the IWF call for broader reforms beyond the UK social media ban.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has welcomed the UK government’s decision to restrict social media access for under-16s but argues that the measure alone will not significantly reduce online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
In a new blog, IWF Chief Executive Kerry Smith describes the proposed ban as a major policy milestone while warning that it must be accompanied by broader reforms if it is to deliver lasting improvements in children’s online safety.
According to the IWF, children continue to face a rapidly evolving range of online threats, including grooming, financial sextortion, commercial child sexual abuse and the growing exploitation of young people across digital platforms.
While limiting access to social media may reduce exposure to some risks, the organisation argues that determined offenders will continue to exploit encrypted messaging services, gaming platforms and other online environments if wider safeguards are not introduced.
The charity therefore calls for a more comprehensive regulatory approach centred on safety by design. Its recommendations include stronger safeguards for end-to-end encrypted services, tougher enforcement of the UK’s Online Safety Act, greater accountability for technology companies, and platform design that prevents harmful products and features from reaching users before risks are identified.
The IWF also highlights the need to regulate emerging technologies such as AI chatbots and strengthen device-level protections for children.
Why does it matter?
The IWF’s position reflects a growing international consensus that age restrictions alone cannot address the complex ecosystem of online child exploitation. As abuse increasingly migrates across encrypted services, gaming platforms and AI-powered technologies, policymakers are being encouraged to adopt broader regulatory frameworks that target platform design as well as user access.
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