Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to enforce a crackdown on children under the age of 16 using smartphones in the UK within months, as the government launches a consultation into new social media protections in March. The initiative aims to do all it can to keep children safe online, guided by input from parents and young people.
Government Plans for Online Safety Measures
The government plans to consult on banning children from social media and restricting features such as infinite scrolling. Additionally, proposals include preventing children from using virtual private networks (VPNs) to illicitly access pornography and limiting interactions with online chatbots. Sir Keir warned that no online platform will receive a "free pass" regarding children's safety, emphasizing that technology is advancing rapidly and the law must keep pace. He stated, "With my government, Britain will be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to online safety."
Closing Legal Loopholes and AI Chatbot Regulations
Ministers are taking steps to close legal loopholes that have allowed chatbots to create deepfake nude images, with plans to force all AI chatbot providers to abide by the Online Safety Act or face consequences. This follows concerns earlier this year over Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot on X, which was used to generate fake nude images of women and sexualized content involving children. The government vows to introduce further curbs on social media to address these issues.
Implementation Timeline and Legislative Actions
The consultation into new social media protections will launch in March, with ministers preparing powers to act swiftly on its results within months. Prior to this, they will close a legal loophole to ensure AI chatbot compliance. Additionally, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will be used to introduce powers for rapid law changes in response to evolving online behaviors. Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will also ensure chatbots protect users from illegal content.
Potential Framework from Australia's Example
While no concrete details for an under-16s social media ban have been confirmed in the UK, Australia's recent implementation serves as a possible template. In December, Australia enforced a world-first prohibition on social media for children under 16, requiring major platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X to lock out young users or face fines up to A$49.5 million (£26.5 million). This ban affects over a million accounts, with platforms using tools such as behavior analysis, age estimation via selfies, and identification documents for enforcement.
Criticism and Challenges of a Social Media Ban
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted that online harms need not be accepted as inevitable, but the ban faced criticism from young users who expressed dismay at being locked out of platforms. Many posted farewells on social media, with one teenager lamenting, "No more contact with the rest of the world." While welcomed by some parents' groups and child safety advocates, technology companies and civil liberties organizations warned of privacy compromises, age falsification, and risks of pushing children onto riskier platforms. Studies indicate the ban may lead to stagnation in user numbers and time spent on platforms, though platforms note minimal advertising revenue from under-16s and disruption to future user pipelines.
Before the ban, 86% of Australians aged eight to 15 used social media, according to government data. Tests by The Guardian revealed that some platforms were still applying restrictions hours after implementation, with under-16 accounts occasionally permitted. The UK's consultation will likely consider these challenges as it develops its own approach to safeguarding children online.
