Family lawyers are bracing themselves for a new front in parental disputes when the government introduces the social media ban for under-16s.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed this week that the government would restrict children’s access to platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, with the ban coming into force in spring 2027. Social media sites YouTube, Facebook and X would also likely be included.

Making the announcement, Starmer said the ban must happen to protect the safety and happiness of children.

But family law experts say the proposal could have significant implications for separated families and children proceedings, adding a new dimension to disputes over how children access smartphones and social media platforms.

Andrew Morris, family law partner at national firm HCR Law, predicted that courts would in future see disagreements over digital access as a child welfare issue, rather than treat it as an example of differing parenting styles. Many separated parents already disagree about issues such as screen time, smartphones and access to social media,’ said Morris. ‘What is changing is the wider public and political conversation around children’s online safety.

‘If the law moves towards restricting social media access for under-16s, parents who allow unrestricted access may find their decisions coming under greater scrutiny if disputes reach the family courts.’

Morris added that a child watching YouTube would not dictate where they go on to live or the access granted to a parent, but judges would want to examine exposure to content considered harmful.

‘As concerns about online safety continue to grow, separated parents may need to have much clearer conversations about the rules and boundaries that apply in both households.’

Meanwhile, technology lawyers say that there are major hurdles to overcome with a social media ban about how the rhetoric can be turned into reality.

Tech, data, and AI partner Matt Holman, from top-100 firm Cripps, said: ‘There are several obvious problems with a social media ban, which include a probable lack of enforcement. Law without enforcement is an illusion. In recent years, the UK has had to weather a continuous decrease in effective data protection enforcement.’