Three years after the Online Safety Act, could the under-16 social media ban put VPNs back in the firing line?
The Online Safety Act came into effect three years ago. Now, with a social media ban on the way for under 16s, could it reignite debate over the role of VPNs?
Three years after the enactment of the Online Safety Act (OSA), the UK government is contemplating an under-16 social media ban, raising concerns that VPNs may once again become a contentious issue. VPN providers argue that the Act has been heavy-handed and only partially successful, as it has failed to significantly reduce the incidence of harmful content for children online.
Ofcom's recent report revealed no major change in the proportion of children exposed to harmful material. Critics, including charities, warn that the Act's timid approach could have dire consequences. Age verification measures have proven ineffective, leading children to resort to riskier, unregulated sites and apps that pose greater dangers.
VPNs gained prominence in 2025 due to concerns that they could be used to bypass age verification. Although government research showed that only 7% of children used VPNs to access restricted content, privacy concerns have surged as age verification becomes more widespread. Despite this, VPNs are unlikely to circumvent account-level ID checks, but they may once again be in the spotlight as young people seek alternative methods to circumvent the ban.
Both ExpressVPN and Proton advocate against restricting VPNs, emphasizing that they can complement legislation to enhance digital safety. However, the debate surrounding VPNs, child safety online, and digital security appears poised to resurface.
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