EE urges families to have online safety chat as two in five young people plan to dodge the social media ban by moving to apps outside its scope

• With months to go until the rollout of a social media ban for young people research from EE reveals secondary school-age pupils are already exploring workarounds
• Two in five young people aged 11 to 15 (42%) are planning to move to apps that fall outside the restrictions, such as messaging services, new gaming sites or lesser-known platforms; 44% are already discussing alternatives with their friends
• Nearly all teachers (95%) expect some of their pupils will find a way round the rules
• Yet, fewer than half of parents (44%) know the ban arrives in March; without a conversation at home now, children switching to apps outside its scope risk facing the online harms it was designed to prevent in the first place
• EE is urging parents to talk to their children about the risks of using apps outside the ban, offering free online safety appointments in over 300 stores for families who need help

With Ofcom due to set out its enforcement plan for next year’s social media ban in the coming days, research from EE reveals that two in five 11 to 15-year-olds (42%) are already planning to dodge the restrictions by downloading apps that fall outside the new rules.

Almost half of secondary school pupils (44%) say they are talking about possible workarounds with their friends, including scoping out alternative platforms that may not be covered by the ban, and nearly all teachers (95%) expect at least some to succeed.

Young people who switch to apps outside the ban, such as new messaging services, gaming sites or lesser-known social platforms, will not be covered by its protections. This could leave them exposed to the very risks the restrictions were designed to prevent, from bullying and harmful content to addictive algorithmic feeds. Yet fewer than half of parents (44%) know the ban arrives in March, raising the risk that conversations about staying safe online happen too late, after children have already started looking for workarounds and navigating alternative spaces.

Rachel Huggins, CEO of Internet Matters said: “These findings highlight why it is so important to offer support to parents now, ahead of the social media ban coming into effect.

“Parents are the first port of call for children when they encounter issues online, yet children are looking to switch to platforms that parents may be less familiar with. These platforms may also present more risk of harm than those that are likely to fall into the scope of the ban, therefore presenting parents with an even greater challenge.

“It is vital to equip parents with the knowledge and tools to help keep their children safe online, and to do this in an accessible way. Internet Matters is pleased to support EE's in-store online safety sessions, making it easier for busy families to get practical help with parental controls and apps settings, and to start conversations before the social media ban takes effect.”

For parents, it’s important to remember that the conversation is as much about friendships as it is about safety. More than half of young people (55%) say being on the same apps as their friends matters, and a third (32%) believe their friendships would suffer without them, which helps explain why so many are looking for a way round it.

These friendship worries are already showing up in the classroom. Half of teachers (49%) say their pupils are distressed or upset about the upcoming changes.

Some parents are prepared to help their children get round the ban. Almost two in five (39%) say they would help their child access social media if they felt the restrictions were harming them, while a third (34%) share their children’s worry that the ban could damage their friendships.

Jonny Bunt, Corporate Affairs Director, BT’s Consumer Division said: “The new rules could transform young people’s relationship with technology, but only if families, teachers and tech companies work together to make them a success. Many young people are already planning to move to apps outside the ban, and families need to talk about that now, before the changes come in.

“Parents want to do right by their children, but they tell us they don’t always know where to start. A great first step is talking to young people about what responsible tech use looks like and agreeing on ground rules together, before the changes come into force. That’s why we are running in-store online safety sessions across the country with expert EE Guides ready to help families build healthy tech habits early.”

EE is offering free, bookable online safety sessions in over 300 stores across the UK. Hosted by specially trained EE Guides, the sessions have been designed to give families and young people personalised support on managing their digital wellbeing, from setting up parental controls and monitoring access to certain apps, to carving out time for screen-free activities.

To find out more, visit https://ee.co.uk/ee-phone-chat; and book an online safety appointment at https://ee.co.uk/store-finder or in any EE store.

ENDS

Methodology

Research conducted by Opinium (member of the British Polling Council) on behalf of EE among 1,000 UK parents of secondary school children, 1,000 young people aged 11 to 17, and 100 secondary school teachers, between the 14^th and 20^th August 2026.

About the social media ban

The UK government announced on 15 June 2026 that social media platforms will be prohibited from offering services to under-16s, with regulations expected before the end of 2026 and protections coming into force in Spring 2027. Affected platforms include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging services including WhatsApp and Signal are excluded. Enforcement sits with platforms rather than parents or children.