UK government considers banning social media for minors similar to Australias approach

UK Government Announces Plans for Social Media Ban Consultation

The UK government has announced plans to launch a consultation on implementing measures to better protect minors online. The consultation will examine evidence from around the world, including Australia, which recently became the first country to ban social media for young people under 16 years old.

As part of the consultation, UK ministers will visit Australia to gather information on the Australian approach to regulating social media use among children. The government is also exploring options such as raising the digital age of consent, implementing phone curfews, and restricting potentially addictive design features.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns about the impact of technology on children’s lives. The UK has already set out plans for an outright ban on artificial intelligence nudification tools, and is working to prevent children from accessing or sharing explicit content online.

The government stated that its goal is to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them. A consultation on social media use will be conducted, with the aim of determining whether a ban for children under a certain age would be effective, as well as exploring other measures such as improved age checks.

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has expressed her party’s intention to introduce a social media ban for under-16s if in power.

Source: Al Jazeera