UK weighs Australia-style age limits for social media access
The British government said it will consider banning young teenagers from social media as it tightens laws aimed at protecting children from harmful content and excessive screen time, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer wrote that “no option is off the table,” including looking at what age children should be able to access social media. He also raised the possibility of restrictions on addictive features, writing that the review could include “whether we need restrictions on things such as addictive features like infinite scrolling or streaks in apps.”
The government said it plans to consult with parents, young people and other interested parties about the safe use of technology, citing growing concern that children are being harmed by exposure to unregulated social media content.
As part of the government’s investigation into online safety, ministers said they will travel to Australia to study the country’s recent move. That move requires major social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X to bar children under 16 from their platforms.
More than 60 lawmakers from Starmer’s center-left Labour Party have called for a similar approach in Britain. In a letter to the prime minister, the lawmakers said successive governments have done “far too little to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms.”
In the same letter, the lawmakers urged the government to introduce “a minimum age for social media access of 16 years old,” arguing the government should show leadership on the issue.
The government said Tuesday that it planned to respond to the public consultation on online safety by this summer.