Why is the UK launching an ‘Australia plus’ social media ban and how will it work?

Government wants to back parents against tech companies though some feel the process has been rushed

Keir Starmer is expected to announce sweeping “Australia-plus” restrictions on under-16s accessing harmful social media apps, a move the government has framed as taking the side of parents against the big technology companies.

A consultation on online safety closed on 26 May, giving ministers just weeks to come up with policies after receiving more than 116,000 responses. Industry sources and child safety advocates have described the process as “rushed” and driven by a political timeline. It is not clear when the ban could come into force.

Key to the ban is one of the thorniest issues in technology regulation worldwide: how can tech companies verify details about their users without invasive measures – such as requiring government-issued IDs? The UK regulator Ofcom offers some flexibility in how age verification is done under the Online Safety Act. That could change under the ban.