UK Considers Australian-Style Social Media Ban For Under-16s Amid Online Safety Concerns

Britain could introduce an Australian-style prohibition on social media use for children under 16 as early as this year, according to Reuters. The proposal forms part of a broader strategy to respond more swiftly to risks associated with social media platforms and artificial intelligence technologies.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has launched a public consultation on the proposed ban and is drafting amendments to existing legislation to enforce the new rules within months.

The move comes amid growing concern across Europe about children’s exposure to harmful online material, with countries such as Spain, Greece, and Slovenia also examining similar restrictions.

Government Seeks to Tighten AI Chatbot Regulation

Attention has also turned to perceived gaps in the Online Safety Act 2023, widely regarded as one of the world’s toughest digital safety frameworks. Current provisions do not comprehensively regulate one-to-one interactions between users and AI chatbots.

Technology minister Liz Kendall stated that the government intends to address this loophole promptly. She said AI chatbots are affecting children and young people. She noted that some minors are forming direct relationships with systems that developers did not design with child protection in mind.

Kendall emphasised that such regulatory gaps could not remain unresolved after nearly eight years of legislative work.

The government plans to publish detailed proposals before June, placing responsibility on technology companies to ensure compliance with British law.

Ministers are also consulting on introducing automatic data preservation orders in cases involving a child’s death, enabling investigators to secure relevant online evidence more effectively. Additional proposals include restrictions on ‘stranger pairing’ features on gaming consoles and measures to prevent the exchange of explicit images.

These changes would be incorporated as amendments to existing crime and child-protection legislation currently progressing through Parliament. While primarily designed to safeguard minors, the measures may have implications for adult privacy and access to digital services.

Kendall acknowledged that the government must first clearly define what constitutes social media before implementing any formal ban.

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