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By Tanveer Ahmed :
Britain is considering introducing an Australian-style restriction on social media use for children under the age of 16 as early as this year, alongside tighter rules for artificial intelligence systems, in a bid to strengthen online safety.
The government led by Keir Starmer launched a public consultation last month on limiting young people’s access to social platforms. Officials are now exploring legal changes that would allow new regulations to be enforced within months after the consultation ends.
Several European countries, including Spain, Greece and Slovenia, are also reviewing similar measures after Australia became the first nation to formally block under-16s from using social media.
The issue has gained further attention following revelations that Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok generated inappropriate sexualised content without consent, raising concerns about weak safeguards.
AI loopholes under review
Britain’s Online Safety Act of 2023 is among the toughest digital safety frameworks globally. However, it does not currently regulate private one-to-one conversations with AI chatbots unless content is shared with others.
Technology minister Liz Kendall said this gap would soon be addressed, warning that children are increasingly forming personal relationships with AI systems that were never designed with youth protection in mind.
The government plans to publish its updated proposals before June, making tech companies legally responsible for ensuring their platforms meet British safety standards.
New child protection measures
Authorities are also considering new powers that would automatically preserve online data when a child dies, helping investigators secure digital evidence. Other proposals include limiting “stranger pairing” in online gaming and preventing the exchange of explicit images.
These changes will be introduced as amendments to existing crime and child protection laws currently being debated in parliament.
Privacy and enforcement challenges
While the proposals aim to protect minors, critics warn they may impact adult privacy and online freedoms. Some adult websites have already blocked UK users to avoid age-verification rules, although many users bypass restrictions using VPN services — something the government is now considering limiting for under-18s.
Although many parents support stricter controls, some child safety groups fear an outright ban could drive young users toward less regulated platforms or create a sudden risk gap once children turn 16.
Officials also acknowledge that defining what legally qualifies as “social media” will be one of the biggest challenges before any ban can be implemented.
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