The United Kingdom government is actively exploring whether to follow Australia’s lead and impose strict curbs on children’s access to social media, including the possibility of an outright ban for those below a certain age, amid mounting concerns over the impact of online platforms on young people’s mental health, development and safety. This review comes as Canberra last month enacted a world-first law barring children under 16 from opening or maintaining accounts on major social media platforms, a move that has sparked global debate on digital regulation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government said no option is “off the table” as they consider a range of measures to better protect children from the addictive and potentially harmful aspects of social media. Starmer, in a public statement, warned that children risk being drawn into “a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison” if current usage patterns are left unchecked, underscoring the seriousness with which officials view the issue. Australia’s policy — which requires platforms to block under-16s or face significant fines — will be closely studied by UK ministers and experts to assess both its effectiveness and potential pitfalls before any decision is reached.
The government has launched a public consultation seeking evidence on whether a similar ban in the UK would truly safeguard children, how it might be implemented, and what age threshold would be appropriate. Officials have expressly said they are weighing whether age verification systems should be tightened, if the current digital age of consent needs revision, and if features such as infinite scrolling — designed to increase engagement — should be restricted. As part of this broader review, ministers plan to travel to Australia to gain first-hand insights into that country’s approach and its effects on families, tech firms and enforcement bodies.
Concerns about social media’s influence have intensified in recent years, especially with the rapid rise of algorithm-driven platforms and the expansion of AI-generated content, which critics say can expose children to inappropriate material more easily than ever before. A recent controversy over an AI chatbot generating potentially harmful images involving minors has further amplified calls for stronger protections online. In response, the UK government has already moved to ban tools that facilitate the creation of non-consensual content and is tightening rules to prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing explicit images.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasised that while the UK’s Online Safety Act has broadened age checks and reduced young people’s exposure to harmful sites, parents and campaigners still have serious reservations about children’s welfare online. She noted ongoing parental pressure as a key factor driving the consultation and promised that additional, evidence-based guidance on screen time and healthy online engagement would be issued for families, including separate recommendations for very young children.
The debate has drawn voices both in support of and opposed to a potential ban, reflecting wider questions about digital rights, personal freedom and the role of government in regulating technology. As the UK government weighs its next steps, the outcome of this consultation and any subsequent legislative proposals will be watched closely by policymakers abroad grappling with similar challenges posed by social media in an increasingly connected world.
