Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with the government of Australia about any lessons that could be learned from Australia’s introduction of a law to ban under-16s from social media platforms.

The government recognises international efforts being made to tackle the issues that arise from harmful content and age-inappropriate experiences on social media. This includes new age-restrictions on certain social media platforms in Australia that are due to take effect from 10 December.

We have a close relationship with Australia and continue to engage closely under the UK-Australia Memorandum of Understanding for Online Safety and Security to share evidence and learn from each other’s approaches to protecting children from harm online.