Would an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s work in the UK?

Описание: Under‑16 social media bans and tools like Grok are not just tech stories, they are society stories. They raise deep questions about safety, consent, and how we prepare young people for a digital‑first world.

I was back on BBC Radio Bristol to talk about the possibility of an Australian-style ban on social media for under 16s.

Australia’s new under‑16 social media ban has already seen more than a million accounts blocked, but it is still too early to know if it will truly improve wellbeing. Age‑verification is in place, yet tech‑savvy teens are already looking for ways around it via VPNs and alternative platforms.

A hard cut‑off at 16 ignores the nuance of how young people learn to communicate, create and participate online, and risks sending them into adulthood without the digital skills society now expects.

Beyond bans. preparing digital adults
Social media is here to stay and gives every one of us a broadcast channel, so the real challenge is how we teach healthy digital expression rather than simply switching the tools off.

Banning technology outright can mean young people miss the chance to practise responsible use while supported by parents, schools and communities.

The Grok moment and AI harms
The Grok “put her in a bikini” saga shows how generative AI can be weaponised to create non‑consensual sexualised imagery in a matter of seconds.

The deeper question for tech leaders is not whether we can build systems that can undress anyone from a single photo. it is why we are building them at all and what this does to trust in society.

What responsible AI looks like
Some firms, such as OpenAI, have at least attempted to stress‑test their models with diverse human reviewers before launch, to understand how systems behave at the extremes.

Even so, humans will always try to “break” new technology, which is why governance, safety‑by‑design and a pause‑and‑reflect mindset are now essential board‑level topics.
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How I help media and leaders
As The Actionable Futurist and author of the international bestseller “Digitally Curious”, I translate fast‑moving AI and social media issues into plain‑English insights for audiences from the BBC to the boardroom.

Broadcasters, journalists and leadership teams bring me in to provide clear, pragmatic commentary on where regulation, ethics and innovation intersect, and what needs to happen next.

If you are a journalist, editor or producer looking for informed, balanced commentary on AI, social media and regulation, happy to support your next piece or programme.

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