The UK government has launched a consultation on banning social media for users under 16, mirroring Australia's recent law. Ministers plan to visit Australia to study the ban's effects. The proposal also seeks to limit addictive features like infinite scrolling and restrict how tech companies access children's data.

This move follows the UK's 2023 Online Safety Act, which already requires age verification for adult websites. However, politicians like Liz Kendall say parents remain deeply concerned about online content for kids. The consultation precedes a House of Lords vote on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Australia's ban, which started December 10, covers platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube. Meta recently shut down 550,000 accounts to comply, most on Instagram. If passed, the UK amendment could enact a ban within a year, signaling a major shift in how nations regulate youth access to social media.