Read our Privacy noticeMore than 150 youth organisations and young people in Scotland have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to rethink the UK social media ban for under-16s. The letter, led by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), has been signed by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Children in Scotland, Together (Scotland) and Forces Children Scotland, among others. “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.” The letter points to concerns that a similar ban in Australia may have led to children accessing less regulated online platforms. A study by Australia’s University of Newcastle suggested more than 80% of under-16s in the country were still using social media three months after the legislation came into force in December 2025.