Should the path to stopping under-16s from using social media really take years?
According to child safety experts in Australia, the answer is “no.” Now, the UK appears inspired to follow suit, potentially implementing a similar ban on app use by minors far sooner than many would have thought possible. Australia has shown what proactive action looks like by taking on big tech to protect young people.
The Financial Times reported that Australia has been successful in deactivating or restricting access to 4.7 million social media accounts by passing enforcement down to tech companies.
Work is still in progress to ensure the ban achieves its “ambition” over time, however, Australia is innovative and advanced enough to be the first country in the world to take immediate action.
These discussions are spreading through the UK government who are drawing up a range of proposals for consultation, from a full ban to limitations on accounts for younger users.
At Identity Week Europe 2026, our Digital Wallets and National Identity Initiatives sessions will discuss the use of verifiable credentials, national registry innovations, and expert use cases from the French Ministry of the Interior, the Estonian Government, and the World Bank.
