A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Menu

WhatsApp: Children

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology written question – answered at on 9 July 2026.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Neil Duncan-Jordan Neil Duncan-Jordan Labour, Poole

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the inclusion of WhatsApp in any social media ban for under 16s.

Photo of Kanishka Narayan Kanishka Narayan Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government does not intend for messaging services to be included in social media companies being banned from offering services to under 16s. This is to support children staying in touch with family, friends and communities. Final details of restrictions will be set out in regulations.

Does this answer the above question?

1 person thinks so

0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.

  • (Citation: HC Deb, 9 July 2026, cW)

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.