Key facts
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to ban "harmful" social media for under-16s.
- Tech firms must implement safety measures to prevent children from sending or receiving nude images.
- Legislation with fines and potential criminal liability for executives will be introduced if companies do not comply within three months.
- Australia has a similar ban for under-16s with penalties up to A$49.5 million.
- Several European countries are also considering or have implemented age restrictions for social media use.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is poised to announce plans to ban social media access for children under 16, citing concerns over harmful content and the circulation of nude images. Tech firms like Apple and Google would be required to implement technical solutions to detect and block such content on smartphones and tablets, with adults still able to share and view it through an age verification process. Non-compliance within three months could lead to legislation imposing fines and potential criminal liability for executives.
Australia recently enacted one of the world's strictest regulations, banning social media for under-16s and imposing penalties of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliant platforms. Several European nations are also moving to restrict children's social media access. Denmark and France are planning bans for under-15s, while Germany and Norway have implemented parental consent requirements for minors. Italy requires parental consent for under-14s, and Spain is also moving forward with age verification systems.
In the United States, the Kids Online Safety Act, which would require social media companies to exercise reasonable care in designing features that protect minors, has gained support. The European Union is also considering stronger protections, with proposals for an EU-wide ban for under-16s without parental consent and an outright ban for those under 13.