UK plans to announce an "Australia plus" under-16 social media ban, including restrictions on chats with strangers on gaming apps and under-18 curfews
Sources say hardline measures will also prevent young users from being able to talk to strangers on gaming apps
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UK Plans Sweeping Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Britain is preparing restrictions that go further than Australia's social media crackdown on young users.
The UK government is gearing up to impose what insiders are calling an "Australia plus" social media ban targeting children under 16. The proposed measures would go significantly further than Australia's already aggressive approach to keeping kids off platforms.
Among the hardline restrictions: under-16s would be blocked from chatting with strangers on gaming apps. That alone would reshape how millions of young gamers interact online. The plan also includes curfews for users under 18, limiting when they can access social platforms.
The package signals a major escalation in the UK's approach to online child safety. Rather than relying on platforms to self-regulate, the government appears ready to enforce strict age-based controls across social media and gaming.
Details on enforcement mechanisms and timelines remain unclear, but the scope suggests this will be one of the most aggressive youth internet regulations in the world.