UK Weighs Social Media Ban for Under-16s Amid Child Safety Concerns

Britain is considering an Australian-style ban on social media use for children under 16, as the government reviews stronger measures to protect young people online, Reuters reported. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that unchecked access could expose children to harmful patterns of excessive scrolling, anxiety and social pressure.

Starmer said the government is prepared to take firm action and is examining whether features such as infinite scrolling should be restricted, along with reassessing the minimum age for accessing platforms. He described the issue as complex and said any policy changes must be carefully evaluated before being introduced.

Ministers are expected to visit Australia, which recently became the first country to impose a nationwide ban on social media for under-16s, to study its approach. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the UK is considering a similar age threshold, while acknowledging concerns that a ban could drive harmful activity underground or limit positive online engagement.

The review comes amid wider global scrutiny of social media’s impact on children’s development and mental health, intensified by the rise of AI-generated content online. The government is also considering stricter age verification, removing addictive platform features and banning AI nudification tools. Officials say existing measures under the Online Safety Act have already increased age checks and reduced children’s exposure to harmful content.