The UK government is reminding parents of its online consultation for a social media ban for under-16s.

Parents continually must strike a balance with their children on screentime, social media use, and online safety.

The UK government is preparing to take tough action to make tech platforms take responsibility for what children and teens are exposed to online. The government also plans on giving parents access to free, practical tools to support them in parenting their children online.

The government’s landmark consultation on children’s online safety, which is open right now, sets out some of the most ambitious proposals ever put forward by any government – including minimum age limits for social media, overnight curfews on addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, and tighter restrictions on AI chatbots for young people.

The government has promised to act quickly on the findings, and new legal powers mean ministers can move within months rather than waiting years for new legislation.

The response has already been significant, over 38,000 people have had their say in just the first month since it launched.

The consultation closes on 26 May and there are dedicated versions for both parents and young people – so this is a real chance for families to shape what happens next.

“I’ve been hearing from parents and children across the country, and it’s clear this matters deeply to families. Platforms must be held accountable – and they will be. We are taking action to make sure they meet their responsibilities,” online safety minister Kanishka Narayan said.

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“But I’ve also heard that parents want support, not just reassurance. Regulation alone won’t change culture overnight, and that’s why we’re giving families free, practical tools to have those conversations at home. We want every family to feel equipped and confident, not overwhelmed.”

Alongside this, the government is also reminding parents about its ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign, a no-nonsense and free toolkit packed with practical advice to help mums and dads feel confident starting those conversations, without it turning into a row at the dinner table.

Over 120,000 families have already visited the campaign website since it launched in February, with thousands setting weekly reminders to check in with their children about what they’re seeing online.