UK launches consultation on additional measures to strengthen child online protection
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has opened a public consultation on new proposals to enhance child safety online, including potential age limits for social media and tighter controls on platform design features.
On 2 March 2026, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) launched a consultation on further measures to protect children online. The consultation will run until 26 May 2026 and seeks input on how to address the evolving impact of digital technologies on children.
Building on the framework established by the Online Safety Act 2023, the consultation explores whether additional safeguards are required. Among the proposals under consideration are the introduction of a minimum age for accessing social media platforms and the possibility of increasing the digital age of consent.
The inquiry also examines restrictions on certain platform functionalities, including design features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, which are viewed as potentially encouraging prolonged or excessive use. The role of age verification and age assurance technologies is assessed as a possible mechanism to support the enforcement of such restrictions.
Further areas of discussion include whether guidance on mobile phone use in schools should be given statutory status and how parental controls and guidance could be simplified to better support families.
The consultation forms part of the UK government’s broader review of child safety in digital environments and invites views from stakeholders on the proportionality, effectiveness and practical implications of the proposed measures.
