UK to consider Australia-style ban on social media for children

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al JazeeraJanuary 20, 2026 at 03:48 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The UK government is considering a social media ban for children, similar to the one implemented in Australia in December 2025. UK ministers will visit Australia to study their approach to the ban for those under 16. A UK government consultation will examine the effectiveness of such a ban, as well as other measures like raising the digital age of consent, phone curfews, and restrictions on addictive design features. This initiative aims to protect minors online amidst growing concerns about AI-generated content, including non-consensual sexual images. The UK has already planned to ban AI nudification tools and prevent children from accessing nude images on devices. The goal is to ensure technology benefits children and protects their childhood.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Grok AI 50% Elon Musk 60% Liz Kendall 70% Australia ×380% UK ×790%

Keywords

social media ban 100% children 90% online safety 80% digital age of consent 70% artificial intelligence 60% uk government 60% minors 50% australia 50% technology 40% phone curfews 40%