UK Government Weighs Australia-Style Social Media Ban for Under-Sixteens Amid Rising Concern Over Online Harm
Prime Minister signals openness to age-based restrictions as public, lawmakers and ministers debate social media access limits following Australia’s digital safeguard move
The United Kingdom government is actively considering proposals to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media access for children under the age of sixteen, reflecting mounting concern among policymakers, parents and educators over the impact of unregulated online platforms on young people.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that “no option is off the table” while officials consult on a range of possible measures to improve child online safety, including age limits, limits on addictive features and enhanced age verification requirements.
The consultation launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will seek evidence from parents, young people, civil society groups and industry on whether a ban similar to Australia’s, which requires platforms to block under-sixteens or face significant penalties, would be effective in the UK context.
Australia’s legislation, which took effect in December two thousand twenty-five, already bars under-sixteens from major services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube, leading to millions of accounts being removed as firms complied with the new rules.
Pressure in Britain has intensified from across the political spectrum, with more than sixty lawmakers calling for a minimum age of sixteen and Conservative members advocating for the restrictions as part of a broader strategy to protect children’s wellbeing.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has voiced support for stronger safeguards, warning that social media can harm young people’s development, while public petitions and campaigns have mobilised hundreds of thousands of constituents urging decisive action.
The government’s consultation will also examine whether features associated with compulsive use, such as infinite scrolling and streaks, should be restricted and whether mobile phone policies in schools should be tightened to reduce unsupervised screen time.
Officials plan to respond to the consultation by the summer, with the outcome expected to influence potential legislative or regulatory proposals.
While some child welfare organisations have cautioned that blanket bans alone may not address all risks, there is growing consensus among advocates that existing frameworks, including the Online Safety Act, must be complemented by robust age-based protections.
As the UK observes Australia’s experience with its social media age restrictions, the debate is shaping into a key aspect of the government’s wider strategy to safeguard children in the digital age.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that “no option is off the table” while officials consult on a range of possible measures to improve child online safety, including age limits, limits on addictive features and enhanced age verification requirements.
The consultation launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will seek evidence from parents, young people, civil society groups and industry on whether a ban similar to Australia’s, which requires platforms to block under-sixteens or face significant penalties, would be effective in the UK context.
Australia’s legislation, which took effect in December two thousand twenty-five, already bars under-sixteens from major services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube, leading to millions of accounts being removed as firms complied with the new rules.
Pressure in Britain has intensified from across the political spectrum, with more than sixty lawmakers calling for a minimum age of sixteen and Conservative members advocating for the restrictions as part of a broader strategy to protect children’s wellbeing.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has voiced support for stronger safeguards, warning that social media can harm young people’s development, while public petitions and campaigns have mobilised hundreds of thousands of constituents urging decisive action.
The government’s consultation will also examine whether features associated with compulsive use, such as infinite scrolling and streaks, should be restricted and whether mobile phone policies in schools should be tightened to reduce unsupervised screen time.
Officials plan to respond to the consultation by the summer, with the outcome expected to influence potential legislative or regulatory proposals.
While some child welfare organisations have cautioned that blanket bans alone may not address all risks, there is growing consensus among advocates that existing frameworks, including the Online Safety Act, must be complemented by robust age-based protections.
As the UK observes Australia’s experience with its social media age restrictions, the debate is shaping into a key aspect of the government’s wider strategy to safeguard children in the digital age.
