The UK government is exploring measures to better protect children online, including an Australia-style ban on social media for minors and stricter mobile phone use rules in schools.
Officials said they will review global evidence to assess whether a social media ban for children under a certain age would be effective and how it could be implemented successfully.
Read more : UK govt abandons mandatory digital ID for work –
Ministers plan to visit Australia, which recently became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, to learn from its approach and adapt lessons for the UK context.
The proposals come amid growing concerns over mental health and online safety, particularly as AI-generated content and harmful material increase risks for children exposed to digital platforms.
Read more : UK, France weigh social media ban for teens
In addition to potential bans, the government is considering better age verification methods, limiting addictive features like infinite scrolling, and reviewing the current digital age of consent to strengthen protections.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized that recent laws, including the Online Safety Act, were a starting point, and the government is ready to take further action to safeguard children online.