From 2 March 2026 to 26 May 2026, the UK Governments Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s consulted on further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change. 

The consultation sought views on potential age restrictions on social media and other services such as gaming sites and AI chatbots, restrictions on addictive design features and risky functionalities, and better support for parents and families.

CIOB recently published a press release about the consultation here.

As part of our response, CIOB has written to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology asking them to consider how such a ban could negatively impact under-16s career awareness, access, and engagement, as social media currently fills a critical gap in traditional career advice and information for young people.

As part of this letter, CIOB has urged the government to address the potential resulting gap in career information by strengthening school-based careers advice and services at colleges, increasing investment in outreach programmes for sectors facing labour shortages (such as construction), developing a national campaign to promote various career pathways, and finding alternative ways to engage parents with direct information about modern career opportunities.

These recommendations are set out in the full letter below.