Time limits, curfews or a full ban: how UK may restrict social media for under-16s

Ministers have committed to changing rules for children, but how this will take shape is still up for debate The UK government committed last week to either implementing a ban on under-16s accessing social media or imposing restrictions on children’s use of those platforms. A consultation is already under way on whether to impose limits and the announcement confirms that curbs will be introduced. Here are some of the restrictions that could be brought in. The imposition of an Australia-style ban is under consideration as part of the consultation but the UK technology secretary, Liz Kendall, said last week that there were “strongly different views” on whether it was the right way to go. The consultation closes at the end of May and the government is expected to act on its conclusions soon after. The Molly Rose Foundation, established by the family of Molly Russell, a British teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful online content, does not support a ban and is calling for stronger online safety instead. However, there is political backing for a ban including from the opposition Conservative party and more than 60 Labour backbench MPs. The consultation refers broadly to t