Further details have emerged about the Government’s plans to introduce a social media ban for under-16s.

The announcement followed the conclusion of the Government’s wide-ranging consultation on keeping children safe online (discussed previously here) and was anticipated by many, even if others urged the Government to proceed with caution.

Perhaps less anticipated was that the ban would not merely mirror the recent ban enacted in Australia which targets user-to-user platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, but that it would go even further.

Described by the Government as “Australia Plus”, its plans will also see “world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s” applying to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites”. At the same time, restrictions on these functionalities will be on by default for 16- and 17-year-olds to “prevent a cliff-edge at 16” and the Government will set out in detail in July whether it intends to consider overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under 18-year-olds.

After the announcement, the Government released a fact sheet with more information about its plans. Among other things, it addresses concerns that the ban will introduce de facto age verification checks for all adults, stating that “many will not need to do checks” either because they have already done so by virtue of the Online Safety Act 2023, or have an account that has been open for over 16 years or is connected to a credit card.

On the question of age assurance, the Government commits to setting out in the coming months what it considers to be suitable options for effective forms of age assurance. Separately, Ofcom has already written to the Government making clear that there are fewer established methods for effective age assurance at 16, and that it is working “to understand the effectiveness and accessibility of different methods, the availability of identity and age attributes at 16, and the privacy considerations of different existing and emerging methods”.

The fact sheet also confirms that the Government will provide an update next month on whether it intends to take action to address the use of VPNs to circumvent the ban. It states that it has commissioned research on children’s use of VPNs and that “we want to assess this evidence to ensure any decisions we take are proportionate and evidence-based, recognising both the need to protect children and the legitimate uses of VPNs, such as for privacy or freedom of speech purposes”.

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