The UK government is launching a consultation on banning under 16s from social media following growing concern from parents and child advocacy groups on the tech’s effect on children’s mental health and safety.

There has long been debate surrounding the effect of social media on teens and children, with concerns surrounding not only the content shared but the addictive nature of the technology on young people’s brains.

Australia recently launched its own ban on social media for under 16s, prompting other governments to seriously consider a potential outright ban and safety assurances and other protections fall short in addressing growing worries.

The UK government’s consultation will identify the next steps in the government’s plan to boost children’s wellbeing online, ensuring they have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media.

In the mean time, immediate action will include Ofsted checking school mobile phone policy on every inspection, which schools expected to be phone-free by default.

Amid concerns that young people’s lives are dominated by too much time in front of devices, the government will support families by producing evidence-based screen time guidance for parents of children aged 5 to 16. This is in addition to guidance for parents of under-fives that will be published in April.

Ministers will examine the most effective ways to go further to ensure children have healthy online experiences, building on the world-leading Online Safety Act.

A consultation on children’s use of technology – backed by a national conversation – will seek views from parents, young people and civil society – with the first events in a nationwide tour to be held in the days ahead. The government will respond to the consultation in the summer.

Evidence from around the world will be examined on a wide range of suggested proposals, including looking at whether a social media ban for children would be effective and if one was introduced how best to make it work. Ministers will visit Australia to learn first-hand from their approach.

The consultation will look at options including raising the digital age of consent, implementing phone curfews to avoid excessive use, and restricting potentially addictive design features such as ‘streaks’ and ‘infinite scrolling’.

It will seek views on a range of measures, including determinging the right minimum age for social media access, exploring ways to improve age assurance technology accuracy, and assessing if the current digital age of consent is too low.

It will also look into removing or limiting functionalities to drive addictive use of social media, as well as explore further interventions to support parents in helping their children navigate the digital landscape.

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“Through the Online Safety Act, this government has already taken clear, concrete steps to deliver a safer online world for our children and young people,” technology secretary Liz Kendall said.

“These laws were never meant to be the end point, and we know parents still have serious concerns. That is why I am prepared to take further action.

“Technology has huge potential – to create jobs, transform public services, and improve lives. But we will only seize on that potential if people know they and their children are safe online.

“We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve.”