Charities support protecting children online but warn under-16 social media restrictions could make vulnerable young people harder to reach

21 AUG 2026

• 97% of charities support protecting children from online harm, but many fear unintended consequences 

• 69% of charities are concerned that restrictions could unintentionally limit support available to vulnerable young people 

• One in four reported occasions where social media enabled them to engage a vulnerable young person who may otherwise not have sought support  

• Just 25% of charities believe that current funding levels will allow them to replace the reach of social media  

Nearly seven in ten charities fear social media restrictions for under-16s could unintentionally make it harder for vulnerable young people to access support, according to new research by Benefact Group, one of the UK’s largest corporate donors.

Benefact Group commissioned the research among charities to better understand how organisations working on the front line view the potential impact of restrictions on social media access for young people.

When asked which groups could become harder to reach if social media access became more restricted, charities most frequently identified young people not in education (40%), young people with mental health concerns (38%), children and young people in care (38%), and those excluded from school (33%). 

While 97% of charities support efforts to protect children from social media, many warn that it’s an important route for reaching young people experiencing vulnerabilities such as mental health challenges and isolation.

Just over half (52%) of charities said they communicate directly with under-16s via social media, using it to signpost support services and share educational and wellbeing content. A similar number (54%) also see social media as an important tool in helping under-16s become aware of their services. 

While social media can cause significant harm when used maliciously, it can also be a crucial source of support. However, nearly four in ten charities (38%) believe they would face higher costs if social media became a less effective way of reaching under-16s. 

Charities are prepared to diversify their outreach, with many saying they may need to rely more heavily on schools, community groups and youth centres. The concern is that only one in four charities (25%) believe current funding levels would allow them to replace the reach currently provided by social media. 

Pressure is likely to fall on these alternative support networks, like schools, to fill the gap. Any restrictions on social media access for under-16s should therefore be accompanied by investment in these services, as they may become an increasingly important route for young people trying to access support and resources.  

Martin Cosser, CEO and Founder at Charlie’s Promise said:“As a father who has lost a child to knife crime, I have enormous compassion for families whose children have been harmed, murdered, or targeted through social media. However, we can’t lose sight of the other side of this conversation or simply reduce this debate to whether social media is good or bad. 

“Social media has become one of the most powerful tools we have for educating, engaging, and reaching young people who may never walk through a charity’s doors or turn up to an event. If we take it away without replacing it with something just as effective, we risk making the very young people we’re trying to protect even harder to reach. 

“Any restrictions need to be matched by real investment in schools, youth services, community organisations, and charities. You can’t simply close one door and just assume another opens on its own.”

Chris Pitt, Group Impact Director at Benefact Group, said:“As an organisation that has donated over £250 million to more than 10,000 charities since 2014, we wanted to understand how changes to social media access could affect the young people they work with. While charities overwhelmingly support efforts to protect children online, many are concerned that vulnerable young people could lose an important route to help and information.

“Schools, charities and community organisations play a vital role in supporting vulnerable young people and may face additional pressure if social media becomes a less effective route to support. Any changes to how under-16s access online services should be accompanied by investment in alternative support networks to help ensure no young person falls through the cracks.

“Social media platforms, policymakers, schools, charities and parents all have a role to play in helping young people stay safe online while maintaining access to trusted sources of information and support.”