UK Plans Australia-Plus Social Media Ban for Under-16s

The UK’s outgoing government has announced plans for an “Australia-plus” social media ban targeting users under the age of 16. The proposed restrictions aim to implement one of the world’s most extensive online limitations.

Under this new policy, major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook would be inaccessible to minors. To prevent teenagers from circumventing these restrictions, Andy Burnham, who is reportedly aiming for the position of Prime Minister, has been quietly preparing strict new VPN regulations.

The most concerning enforcement measure involves banning, monitoring, or mandating a Digital ID check for every single VPN user in Britain. Ofcom, the communications regulator, is currently evaluating potential technologies to enforce age verification on social media platforms effectively.

Verifying users under 16 presents significant challenges as at least 10 percent of this demographic lacks a passport. To address these issues, the regulator is considering various solutions beyond traditional identity documents, including facial age estimation and digital ID schemes.

The EU Commission’s Executive Vice-President, Henna Virkkunen, has also endorsed the ban on VPNs, stating that new age-verification systems cannot be bypassed using VPNs. The EU Parliament’s think tank called VPNs “a loophole to close.”

These reports have sparked backlash from users, experts, and the digital community. Maya Thomas, legal and policy officer at Big Brother Watch, expressed concerns about handing over IDs, arguing that mass collection of ID information and biometric data will not keep children safe but instead creates new cybersecurity risks.

David Campbell Bannerman, a former EU Parliament member, posted on X, “Truly scary. We are sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare.”

The government’s approach is more stringent than Australia’s, which has faced challenges in implementation. While Australia requires “reasonable steps,” the UK government aims for “highly effective” age assurance.

Enforcement Challenges: With roughly 10% of under-16s lacking passports, Ofcom is considering various digital ID schemes, AI-based facial age estimation, and data sharing via phone companies or open banking.