Key Points
- The UK government is considering a ban on social media for children under a certain age.
- The move is inspired by a similar ban recently implemented in Australia.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is concerned about the impact of social media on children’s mental health.
- The government is also considering restricting “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling.
The British government is considering a ban on social media for children, following Australia’s lead. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned on Tuesday that kids are at risk of being pulled into “a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison.”
The government has said it will review evidence from around the world, including a visit to Australia, to determine whether a ban would be effective and how it could be implemented. Australia recently became the first country to ban social media for children under 16.
“This is a hugely complex issue – so it’s important it’s properly considered,” Starmer said.
The proposals come as governments everywhere are struggling to deal with the impact of social media on children’s mental health and development. The recent explosion of AI-generated content, including a scandal involving Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot, has only made these concerns more urgent.
The UK has already passed the Online Safety Act, one of the world’s strictest internet safety laws. The government says the law has already increased the number of children who encounter age checks online and has cut visits to pornography sites. But they also say there is more to do.
“These laws were never meant to be the end point, and we know parents still have serious concerns,” said Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.
In addition to a potential ban, the government is also looking at other measures, such as restricting “addictive” features like infinite scrolling and improving age verification. They are also considering whether the current age of consent in the digital age is too low.
“No option is off the table,” Starmer said, adding that the government will work with experts to find the most effective ways to protect children online.
