UK prime minister stares down barrel of ban on social media for kids

The UK government is considering supporting an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to require highly effective age assurance measures that would prevent under-16s from using social media, reflecting growing cross-party support and parallels with Australia’s recent ban. The proposal—backed by Baron John Nash, Baroness Hilary Cass, and Baroness Floella Benjamin—would also direct the UK’s chief medical officers to publish guidance on children’s social media use, while the government concurrently reverses earlier plans for a digital ID requirement.