The consultation, which opened today ( 2nd March) and which runs until 26^th May, will seek input from the public on how to keep children safe online across social media, AI chatbots and gaming platforms.

Key questions that the consultation will consider include whether there should be a minimum age for social media and, if so, what age would be right.

The proposals follow a recent ban implemented in Australia that restricted access to social media for under-16s in the country.

The UK consultation will also consider whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, and whether mandatory overnight curfews would work.

Other ideas that will be considered in the consultation include whether there should be any restrictions on children’s use of AI chatbots, how age verification enforcement should be strengthened, and how to help children and parents navigate the digital world.

The government said it would respond to the consultation this summer, and that dedicated children’s and parents’ version of the consultation would also run in due course.

A parallel academic panel will assess the developing evidence base for the issues covered by the consultation, drawing on international experiences from countries including Australia.  

The government will also work with parents to run live pilots with teenagers to test interventions including social media bans, overnight curfews and daily screen time limits in practice.

New legislative powers have been introduced that will allow the government to act quickly on the consultation’s findings, meaning that once passed, ministers can move within months instead of waiting years for new legislation every time technology evolves.  

Liz Kendall, technology secretary, said: “We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online and the impact all of this is having. 

“This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change. Together, we will create a digital world that gives young people the childhood they deserve and prepares them for the future.” 

The consultation can be viewed here.