Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly considering a major shift in online safety policy, with a potential Australia-style ban on social media for children under 16 now under serious review by the government.
Downing Street Eyes Australian Model
According to reports, discussions have begun between the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall on whether to emulate Australia's stringent approach. The Australian policy, which came into force in December, prohibits children under 16 from accessing major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X.
Under this law, tech companies face fines of up to £25 million if they fail to take responsible steps to block underage users. A government spokesperson has stated that "nothing is off the table", emphasising that any decision must be grounded in robust evidence.
Radical Rethink Amid Online Safety Act Scrutiny
This renewed consideration comes as the Labour government grapples with the perceived limits of its own Online Safety Act, which only became law this year. While the Act imposes sweeping duties on tech giants to restrict harmful content, backed by massive fines, some ministers are pushing for more drastic action.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged colleagues to "think much more radically", arguing that social media has become a breeding ground for bullying and radicalisation. He compared the ease of accessing harmful content online to the difficulty children face getting into age-restricted films.
Enforceability and Commercial Implications
However, significant concerns remain. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has acknowledged the appeal of a ban but warned that enforceability is a major hurdle. This view is echoed by parts of the tech industry, which fear such bans could simply push young users towards less regulated corners of the internet.
The debate carries substantial commercial weight. A hard age ban would represent a huge escalation in regulatory risk for social media firms in the UK, likely increasing compliance costs and forcing platforms to fundamentally redesign their services and age-verification processes.
