Banning social media in UK for all under-16s won't be easy, experts confirm — but will VPNs be ditched?

The UK Government is weeks away from blocking all social media apps for under-16s. While it might sound deceptively simple, the process of locking down a certain category of website and app for one demographic in one country is fiendishly difficult – and could lead to some unintended consequences. Some of the biggest social media companies have already weighed in, explaining why enforcement should not fall on them . GB News spoke to the minds behind critical security apps to see how the proposed internet crackdown from UK politicians is being perceived, and whether it could even work. Rumours suggest Keir Starmer's administration might take action against VPNs, since these popular apps could be used to bypass restrictions. This is something that happened in the wake of the Online Safety Act last summer, which triggered a 1,400% increase in downloads for Britons . Speaking to GB News, one popular VPN brand blasted: "VPNs are a crucial part of the cybersecurity and privacy ecosystem that, when removed, harms everyone using them – not just the individuals targeted in these legislative efforts. Eliminating VPNs will not solve the safety challenges policymakers are trying to address, it will only create greater privacy and security risks." Ahead of a blanket social media ban, the Labour Government launched an experiment to determine whether a blanket social media ban would positively affect teenagers' daily lives. GB News praised for 'freedom of expression' by award-winning VPN For a limited time, viewers can enjoy ExpressVPN for just 6p a day Ministers set up a six-week trial where 300 children between the ages of 13 and 17 are testing out possible social media bans, from a one-hour cap to an overnight blackout. MPs will review whether these restrictions make any difference to children's academic performance, sleep, and home life. Liz Kendall, the Labour MP for Leicester West, said: "I intend to come forward with our proposals before the summer, and I would like to legislate by the end of the year. The consultation, I believe, is one of the broadest of any country. “It not only looks at whether there should be age restrictions on accessing social media, but also whether there should be age restrictions on features and functions like the endless doom-scrolling or curfews overnight. The UK is increasingly restricting and policing online activity, with the Online Safety Act rolled out last summer , adding strict age verification to certain types of websites, apps and forums, forcing Britons to scan their passports, driving licence, credit cards, and other documents to unlock access to controlled content. Chief Research Officer at ExpressVPN, Pete Membrey, exclusively told GB News: "The Online Safety Act is a real step forward — it puts genuine obligations on platforms around harmful content and gives Ofcom teeth to enforce them. But the honest answer is that enforcement needs to move faster and hit harder. "The harm people are worried about — harmful content, addictive design, kids being targeted by algorithms — comes from platform choices, not from VPNs. The tools to tackle that already exist. Alongside that, digital literacy, parental controls, and industry action all matter too. "We've already moved proactively — we were the first VPN provider to block Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) sites globally, working with the Internet Watch Foundation, without compromising user privacy. "Regulation is important, but it works best when industry is moving alongside it." The Government's roll-out of the Online Safety Act last summer added strict age verification barriers to thousands of popular websites, forums, and social media services. This is meant to prevent children from accessing harmful content. Britons must verify their age by providing a passport scan, a facial scan, or entering credit card details. Age checks can come in the form of a scan of your face using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that estimates your age based on facial geometry. Alternatively, companies will sometimes have you upload a photo of your passport, driving licence, or national ID card. Companies like Sony have begun enforcing age checks for millions of PlayStation 5 console owners in UK . Despite this, many have been unhappy with the blanket age verifications. As a result of the Online Safety Act being enforced, subscriptions to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) skyrocketed to avoid the restrictions . A VPN can reroute your device's internet traffic to a server in another country, making it appear as if you're currently located outside of the UK – essentially bypassing the new enforcement, which only applies to those based in the UK. As a result, the UK Government is reviewing the potential to ban these online privacy tools for under-16s . Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the government is "laying the groundwork for further action," though any major changes like mandatory age checks for some of the best VPN providers will still need Parliament's approval before becoming law. However, Mr Membrey told GB News a step in this direction wouldn't be ideal. He said, "It would actually make things worse. VPNs aren't how most children are getting around age restrictions, so restricting them wouldn't close that gap. What it would do is remove a real layer of protection from vulnerable young people — LGBTQ+ kids, children in difficult home situations, anyone who needs to reach support services without being monitored. And anyone determined to get around restrictions would just move to free, unregulated services with far weaker security. You end up with worse outcomes than you started with." A spokesperson for another award-winning VPN provider, Surfshark, told GB News: "While we support efforts to protect children online, targeting tools that are essential for online security would be a flawed approach. "Blocking VPNs won’t solve a safety problem — it will create a bigger one. VPNs aren’t niche tools used to get around rules; they’re a standard tool people rely on to protect their data online. "Businesses, journalists, researchers, students, healthcare workers, and ordinary people use VPNs every day to protect sensitive data, work safely on public networks, and reduce exposure to tracking and abuse, and have been doing so for decades. "VPNs are a crucial part of the cybersecurity and privacy ecosystem that, when removed, harms everyone using them - not just the individuals targeted in these legislative efforts. Eliminating VPNs will not solve the safety challenges policymakers are trying to address, it will only create greater privacy and security risks. "We support evidence-based solutions to improve online safety for young people. Tools like device-level parental controls, responsible app-store governance, and digital literacy programs address where minors actually access content - on their devices and on platforms - while preserving the security and privacy of the internet." It's also important to note that providers like Surfshark already prohibit users under 18 from using their services, and the requirement for a paid subscription with a valid payment method serves as an additional safeguard against underage use. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Roku hits record-breaking new milestone, and Fire TV just can't compete British brand launches long-awaited Sky Q rival to watch, pause, and record telly Best VPN deals Spotify is treating you to more than 1,400 Peloton workout classes at no extra cost Shark launches £130 handheld fan that promises to 'instantly cool' skin When it comes to how age restrictions should be enforced, Mr Membrey confirms it should be on the shoulders of social media companies. He told GB News: "Social media platforms should be the gatekeepers here — not VPN providers, not internet infrastructure. They're where the content lives, where the user data exists, and where age checks can actually be applied meaningfully. "Australia is the clearest example of this working in practice. "Their eSafety Commissioner pursued a platform-focused model, and even then found that the main reason children were still getting onto restricted platforms was that platforms weren't consistently asking them to prove their age, not that children were using VPNs to get around it. That tells you something important about where the real enforcement gap is. "This is also why we signed an open letter alongside Mozilla, the Tor Project, Proton, and the VPN Trust Initiative, making clear that blunt interventions at the infrastructure level risk undermining the open web without meaningfully improving child safety. It's a genuinely complex area — which is why the Government has run a consultation on it, and why we engaged with that process directly." Mozilla recently fired warning shots at UK regulators regarding possible VPN limitations. How a VPN Protects Your Privacy A VPN protects your privacy by securing your online activity from being tracked by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other third parties. When you use a VPN, your real IP address is hidden, and your connection is encrypted. This means the websites you visit and your browsing activity are not directly linked to your home IP address. With age-verification systems potentially requiring identity checks or third-party verification services, some users worry about data retention and digital profiling. While a VPN does not remove age checks imposed by UK law, it does prevent your ISP from seeing which websites you access and helps limit additional tracking beyond the verification process itself. Here are a few VPNs that can help protect your online privacy. Is it legal to use a VPN? Let's set the record straight — using a VPN to safeguard your data online is not a legal offence. If you've been issued a company laptop to work remotely, the IT department will likely require you to use a VPN before you start a shift. Needless to say, this isn't against the law. But while VPNs were once solely used in enterprise and government spheres, these apps are becoming increasingly popular with people across the world to improve personal online security. VPNs are only illegal in 10 countries: China, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Iraq, Turkey, UAE , and Oman . If you're currently based in any of these nations or plan on visiting one soon, consider uninstalling any VPN apps from your devices. Outside of these countries, VPNs are legal and can be used without restrictions. But while it might be legal, it's worth noting that using a VPN might be against the Terms of Service of some websites or mobile apps, so it's always worth checking the T&Cs to make sure you're in the clear. ***All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. 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