Separated parents must 'act now' as social media ban comes in - lawyers advice

Separated parents must 'act now' as social media ban comes in - lawyers advice Separated couples who share a child together are being encouraged to act immediately as a new ban on social media for under 16s is set to be implemented from 2027 A lawyer is urging separated parents to act immediately to avoid problematic issues as the under-16s social media ban is set to come into place. On June 15, 2026, the government announced a ban on social media use by children under the age of 16. The announcement followed a government consultation earlier this year on improving children’s relationship with mobile phones and social media, and the ban is expected to be in place by early 2027. The ban's enforcement falls onto each social media platform, With the government confirming there isn’t a penalty for the parents of children who find workarounds, and there are no direct legal consequence for parents who allow access. However, there is a way parents could be affected if their children are seen to be using social media, watching livestreams or communicating with strangers in online games. How under-16s social media ban could impact parents in court Emily Watson, Executive Partner and Children Arbitrator at family law firm Rayden Solicitors, explained that parents, particularly those that are separated should act now to make sure they avoid any unpleasant disagreements int he future. Emily, who has practised family law exclusively since qualifying in 2002, said: "For separated parents, the question of what happens when you and your ex have completely different approaches can tread into legal territory, depending on how it’s handled. "The courts operate under the Children Act 1989, where the child's welfare is always the priority. The government has now legislated on the basis that social media is harmful to under-16s. "What this means is that a parent's approach to their child's digital life is increasingly something courts are likely to focus on, and if one parent dismisses those concerns, they may find that reflects poorly on them in child arrangement proceedings." What should separated parents do ahead of the under-16s social media ban in the UK? She urged separated parents to come to have a conversation and come to an agreement in writing as soon as they can. Emily said: "Whatever your family situation, it’s worth beginning to have conversations sooner rather than later. This will be much easier before the regulations land than after a disagreement has already happened. "Think about what your approach is going to be, aim for consistency between parents, and if you share parental responsibility with someone you're no longer with, try to reach a written agreement that covers the details ahead of the ban coming into force. "If you can't agree, I’d recommend taking legal advice. Courts will increasingly expect both parents to take a child's digital welfare seriously, and this legislation has made it very hard to argue that social media access for an under-16 is anything other than a significant decision."