The UK government is considering an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s.
As part of the proposal, it is also looking at raising the digital age of consent and restricting features on apps that are designed to keep users engaged, such as "streaks" and "infinite scrolling."
Later this week, the House of Lords will vote on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would require social media companies to block under-16s from their platforms within a year of the bill passing.
Social media ban for under-16s considered by UK government
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced immediate steps to address children’s social media use, including directing Ofsted to review how effectively schools implement their mobile phone policies.
The government will also publish screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16, with separate advice for parents of under-fives due in April.
Ministers will travel to Australia as part of the consultation process.
The government said it will seek feedback from parents and young people and expects to respond in the summer.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said technology has the potential to improve lives, but only if people feel safe online.
Ms Kendall said: "We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve."
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government is committed to keeping mobile phones out of schools.
Ms Phillipson said: "We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement.
"Mobile phones have no place in schools.
"No ifs, no buts."
'Ban announcement offers nothing for parents'
Lord Nash, a former schools minister, said the consultation is a further delay in addressing the issue.
Lord Nash said: "This announcement offers nothing for the hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers, medical professionals, senior police officers, national security experts and parliamentarians of all parties who have been calling for a raising of the age limit for social media.
"The Prime Minister must be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this.
"The longer we delay, the more children we fail.
"I continue to urge all peers to back my amendment on Wednesday, which would begin to end the catastrophic harm being done to a generation."
Ian Russell set up the Molly Rose Foundation after his 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life, having viewed harmful content on social media.
He argued that simply banning social media may create "a false sense of security."
Mr Russell said: "The Prime Minister must now commit to strengthening the Online Safety Act to address the harmful and addictive design choices that are blighting a generation of children, and to make clear in law that protecting digital wellbeing is now the price of admission to the UK market."
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