The call by the Education Committee includes restricting ‘addictive' design elements for under-18s, including infinite scrolling, disappearing messages and algorithm-driven content.

Chair of the Education Committee, Helen Hayes, said: ‘Ministers must take action before it is too late. In our submission to the Government's consultation, the committee calls on the Government to restrict addictive features, impose strict duties on social media companies and treat child safety as a public health issue.

‘Anything less leaves children, parents and schools forced to compensate for the unsafe digital worlds enabled by social media firms.'

The committee says a ban should be seen as a starting point, not a complete solution. It calls for a coherent, risk-based and age-appropriate regulatory framework that applies consistently across social media, gaming and hybrid platforms, private messaging services and AI chatbots, including platforms widely used by children.

The report states online harms affecting children are ‘severe and systemic' and are linked to serious deteriorations in mental health, wellbeing and behaviour, sometimes with tragic consequences.

The MPs call on the Government to treat online harms to children as a safeguarding and public health issue, adding preventative regulation should focus on reducing exposure to harm by policy and design of the platforms themselves. The committee also recommends the Government should ensure platforms prioritise safety by design through clear, enforceable duties, backed by meaningful sanctions.

Additionally, the Committee supports the Government's decision to put mobile phone guidance for schools on a statutory footing.