UK eyes Australia-style social media ban for under-16s

Tánaiste Simon Harris says Ireland needed to prohibit the use of social media by under-16s

Spain, Greece, and Slovenia are working on bans after Australia became the first country in the world to block access to under 16s

Britain could bring in an Australian-style ban on social media for children under 16 as early as this year and close a loophole that left some AI chatbots outside safety rules, as part of government efforts to respond more quickly to digital risks.

The British government last month launched a consultation on a social media ban for under-16s and is now working to change legislation so it could bring in any changes within months of the consultation concluding.