UK government moves to follow Australia’s social media bans for children aged under 16

The British government is taking action that will likely see it follow in the footsteps of Anthony Albanese and implement social media age bans for children aged under 16.

The British government is forging ahead with plans that could see it follow Australia and introduce social media bans for children aged under 16.

The UK’s technology secretary Peter Kyle has requested new research be compiled into the impacts of social media and smartphone use on British children and has requested the independent communications regulator Ofcom to report back with findings within six months.

The move comes just two weeks after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the federal government will this month introduce “world-leading” legislation that bans children under 16 from using social media.

It puts the onus on the social media platforms, not users including parents or children, to take steps to ensure there are protections from harm on their online sites.

Britain’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Wagner Meier/Getty Images

Mr Kyle said the UK research into the harms of technology and social media would help ensure how to establish a safer environment for children on platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

“Keeping children safe online is a priority for this government,” he said in a statement.

“We’re also firing the starting gun on research which will help build the evidence base we need to keep children safe online.

“I am committed to using all the tools at our disposal from monitoring the impact of new laws, creating more and better evidence, and working with online safety campaigners and charities to achieve this goal”.

The Australian age limit changes come after News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign which called for the government to increase the age of social media access to 16 to stop the harm caused to young Australians.

Britain is closely following the social media measures being introduced in Australia. Picture: iStock

Mr Kyle in September said ministers were closely following the measures being introduced in Australia and told the BBC: “I’m really interested in the measures that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is looking at.

“It (social media) is making some young people increasingly vulnerable”.

Earlier this month Mr Albanese said: “We need to do everything we can to keep our kids safe, and wherever I go in Australia, I know one of the biggest issues worrying mums and dads is the impact social media is having on their children’s well being.

“I want Australian parents and families to know we’ve got their backs”.

Mr Kyle also announced he will enforce powers under the UK’s Online Safety Act from next year that ensure there are safety measures in place to help prevents harms in society due to online platforms including suicide, self-harm and violence.

Originally published as UK government moves to follow Australia’s social media bans for children aged under 16