CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate

As the Government’s consultation on banning social media for under 16s has now drawn to a close,"Growing up in the online world: a national consultation" which opened in March and ended on 20 May, 2026.CIOB has written to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology asking them to consider the impact such a ban may have on how young people access careers information.

CIOB says, while it is not best placed to comment on whether a ban should or should not be introduced, it wants to highlight how social media has over the years become increasingly influential in the career choices of young people and their understanding of the range of job opportunities available. The body says, should a ban be brought in, Government must ensure access to information about careers is improved across other communications channels to fill the gap.

CIOB research into young people’s perceptions of construction careers in March 2026 found social media is now one of the most influential factors shaping career choices among young people, second only to family influence, and surpassing schools and friends. The CIOB survey found 32% of young people identified social media as a major influence on their career decision-making, up from 26% in 2025. These findings align with wider UK research, including work by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), which found that over one in three young people have used social media to inform a career or job decision.

The research also highlighted how many young people are not receiving sufficient careers information through formal education channels. Nearly half of respondents (45%) said construction careers were not covered in the careers advice they received during education. Furthermore, 44% of parents surveyed stated they felt under-informed about modern career options.

Miruna Leitoiu, policy and public affairs officer at CIOB, said: “While we recognise there are many organisations and stakeholders better placed to provide evidence both in support of, and in opposition to, restrictions on social media use by children and young people, we cannot ignore how it has increasingly become a means of showcasing modern careers, challenging outdated perceptions, and reaching young people who may otherwise receive limited exposure to the breadth of opportunities available.

“Should the Government decide to introduce substantial restrictions or a ban on social media use for under-16s, we would urge consideration of how this gap in access to career information could be addressed. This could include strengthening careers advice services in schools and colleges, increasing investment in outreach programmes for key sectors experiencing labour shortages such as construction, developing national campaigns promoting career pathways, or exploring alternative ways of engaging parents and guardians directly with information about future careers and skills opportunities.

“We believe this is particularly important at a time when the UK is seeking to address critical skills shortages across sectors central to economic growth, housing delivery, infrastructure development, and the transition to net zero.”

The government has committed to taking swift action on its findings from the consultation, which closed on 26 May, and says it will publish its response in summer 2026. Earlier this year the Prime Minister announced new legal powers to allow the government to act swiftly after the consultation response, without waiting for new primary legislation.

This article appears on the CIOB news and blog site as "CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate" dated 27 may 2026.

--CIOB

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