Protecting young people online: British Esports responds to the latest government proposals

British Esports

2 min read | 17 Jun 2026

The recent government announcement has reignited widespread debate around how best to protect young people online, including proposals to ban social media access for under 16s.

As an organisation with a long-standing commitment to safeguarding, British Esports welcomes this important conversation and stands ready to share its expertise and experience as policymakers consider future measures.

Safeguarding has always been at the heart of British Esports. Through our competitions, education programmes and community initiatives, we have long championed the importance of protecting young people, promoting positive online behaviours and supporting the wellbeing of players, parents, educators and staff across the esports ecosystem.

As policymakers continue to develop and clarify their plans, we look forward to engaging with the conversation and will provide further comment when more detail becomes available.

In the meantime, we encourage anyone interested in online safety and safeguarding within esports to explore our free Duty to Care in Esports course. The programme provides valuable guidance and practical knowledge for anyone working with, supporting or participating in esports.

The digital world continues to evolve, and so too must the approaches we take to protecting young people within it.

We’d also like to hear from our community.

Is a social media ban for under 16s the right approach? Could engagement, education and digital literacy offer a more effective long-term solution? How do you think young people will respond, and what other measures would you suggest to help keep them safe online?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

As ever, British Esports remains committed to safeguarding and supporting the wellbeing of young people across our community.