The British government has initiated a comprehensive review of social media access regulations for minors, with potential restrictions on teenage usage gaining significant traction. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration announced it would explore all available options, including implementing age-based access limitations and curbing addictive platform features.
This policy shift comes in response to mounting concerns about children’s exposure to unregulated content and the psychological impacts of excessive screen time. The government has committed to conducting extensive consultations with parents, young people, and stakeholders to develop effective technological safeguards.
In a significant development, UK ministers will undertake a fact-finding mission to Australia to study their recently implemented social media restrictions, which prohibit children under 16 from accessing major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. This international benchmarking exercise aims to inform Britain’s approach to digital child protection.
The movement gained substantial political momentum when over 60 Labour Party lawmakers petitioned the Prime Minister to implement Australian-style age restrictions. Their collective communication criticized previous administrations for inadequate action against ‘unregulated, addictive social media platforms’ and specifically advocated for a minimum access age of 16.
The government has established a summer deadline for responding to its public consultation on online safety measures, signaling urgency in addressing what many perceive as a growing public health concern regarding children’s digital wellbeing.