Britain Weighs Australian-Style Social Media Restrictions for Minors

Britain is considering strict social media regulations similar to Australia, potentially banning access for children under 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlights the negative impacts of endless scrolling and comparison on youth. The government is also looking into stronger age checks and the digital age of consent.

Britain is contemplating emulating Australia's recent ban on social media use for those under the age of 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concerns about the mental health impacts of continuous scrolling and performance pressure experienced by minors.

The UK government has initiated deliberations to examine scrutiny on features like infinite scrolling and access age restrictions. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is evaluating whether the current age threshold aligns with Australia's recent legislative shift, highlighting its complexity.

Moves are also being made to introduce stringent age verification processes and reassess the digital age of consent amid global concerns about children's screen time and mental health ramifications. The development prompted by the proliferation of AI-generated content poses further challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)