UK Government Proposes Stricter Online Safety Rules for Children

The UK government has outlined new proposals to strengthen online protections for children, focusing on social media access and AI chatbot regulation. These measures are being considered as part of ongoing efforts to address online safety risks for young users.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that under the proposed plans, all online platforms would be required to meet strict standards for children’s safety. The government intends to ensure that no platform is exempt from these responsibilities.

One of the main proposals involves closing a legal gap that has allowed AI chatbots to generate illegal content. The government aims to bring these services under the scope of the Online Safety Act, requiring compliance with existing duties related to harmful and illegal material.

Additional measures under consideration include a potential ban on social media use for individuals under the age of 16. The government has launched a consultation process to gather input on this possible restriction, which would align with similar policies recently introduced in other countries.

What the numbers show

• The Online Safety Act 2023 allows fines up to £18 million or 10% of annual turnover for violations
• The Australian ban on under-16s holding social media accounts took effect in December 2025
• The Online Safety Act 2023 was enacted on October 26, 2023

To further prevent children from bypassing online restrictions, the government is examining ways to limit the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) for this purpose. Possible requirements for age verification on VPN services are being explored as part of the broader strategy.

The Online Safety Act 2023 already places a duty of care on online platforms to protect children from exposure to harmful or illegal content. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, is responsible for enforcing these duties and can impose financial penalties for non-compliance.

The consultation on banning under-16s from social media is informed by Australia’s recent implementation of a similar policy. The Australian Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 prohibits individuals under 16 from holding accounts on certain platforms, with the rule in effect since December 2025.

Plans to tighten rules on AI chatbot providers are intended to ensure these services meet the same legal obligations as other online platforms. The government’s approach seeks to address emerging risks linked to new technologies while maintaining consistency with existing online safety laws.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.