MORE than 150 youth organisations and young people across Scotland have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to rethink plans to ban social media for under-16s.

The move, which follows a similar ban already in place in Australia, was announced in June, with the then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer setting plans to have it in force by spring 2027.

In their letter to Mr Burnham, led by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) with signatories including the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Children in Scotland, Together (Scotland) and Forces Children Scotland, called for a rethink amid concerns the ban could drive young people into less regulated and potentially less safe online spaces.

Pointing to a University of Newcastle, Australia, study suggesting over 80 per cent of under-16s in the country were still using social media three months after their ban began in December 2025, Scottish Youth Parliament chair Ellie Craig said: “We are asking the Prime Minister to work with young people, not simply make decisions on our behalf.

“Our message is straightforward — we want safer social media, but we also want policies that are based on evidence, that respect children’s rights and genuinely make young people safer rather than unintentionally pushing them towards greater risks.”

A Westminster government spokesperson insisted the plans had been shaped by “one of the largest consultations this government has undertaken,” adding: “Two thirds of young people responding told us they supported a minimum age of 16 for at least some social media.

“We’re continuing to listen as we finalise details, which will be published by the end of the year. 

“We’ll keep working with young people as we implement these changes to make the online world safer.”