Sir Keir Starmer is reassessing his stance on restricting children’s access to social media after the Australian government introduced a world-first ban targeting users under the age of 16. Australia’s new law applies to major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat and TikTok. The policy was introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and is designed to reduce exposure to harmful online content among young people. While Sir Keir previously voiced personal opposition to a blanket ban for teenagers, new information suggests the UK government is taking a closer look at the Australian approach.
Downing Street Watching Australia Closely
According to The Telegraph, Downing Street is closely monitoring how the Australian legislation performs in practice. Sources familiar with the discussions say talks have already taken place between Sir Keir and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall about whether a similar framework could eventually be considered in the UK. However, officials have stressed that any decision remains distant and dependent on evidence. There is currently no commitment to introducing a comparable ban.
A government spokesman told The Telegraph that parents’ concerns about online harm are being taken seriously. He said the UK has already introduced some of the strongest measures globally to ensure online content is appropriate for children’s ages. The spokesman added that protecting children must be balanced with allowing them to benefit from digital services safely, without cutting them off from essential platforms or isolating vulnerable groups.
Online Safety Debate Grows in the UK
As debates around online safety intensify, digital platforms remain central to public discussion and communication. This includes how pages build engagement, visibility, and trust, which is why many organisations continue to focus on authentic interaction strategies such as genuine Facebook likes, often explored alongside wider conversations about platform responsibility and user wellbeing. The government confirmed it is observing Australia’s age-restriction model closely, while emphasizing that any future action must be supported by strong evidence. After the article’s publication, officials updated their statement to clarify that there are no current plans to introduce a blanket ban on smartphones or social media for children in the UK.
Health Secretary Calls for Stronger Action
The debate gained further momentum after Health Secretary Wes Streeting called for more radical thinking around online safety. Speaking to The Observer, he argued that social media has increasingly become a space for bullying, intimidation, misogyny, and even radicalisation. Mr Streeting compared today’s online environment with his own teenage years, noting that accessing inappropriate content was once far more difficult. He warned that children can now easily encounter extreme material online.
Describing social platforms as increasingly “anti-social,” he said Australia’s decision was worth studying carefully and suggested the UK should evaluate whether similar measures could be appropriate in the future. For now, the government insists that no options are being ruled out, but any policy shift will depend on clear, measurable outcomes from Australia’s experiment.
