The UK's independent terrorism legislation watchdog has called for the government to implement a ban on social media access for children under 16, mirroring a new law in Australia.
Radicalisation Portal and the 'Dial of Death'
In a stark warning, Jonathan Hall KC said the internet now acts as a 'portal to horrific acts of violence'. He expressed particular concern about young people interacting with extremist AI chatbots, which he warned could lead vulnerable teenagers 'down the dial of death'.
Writing in the Telegraph, Hall argued that Britain must 'take back control' from tech giants through bold policy. He pointed to Australia's ban, which came into force in December 2025, as an example of 'improving' legislation.
The Australian Precedent and Enforcement
The Australian measure prohibits under-16s from using platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram. Companies face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (£25.6 million) for non-compliance. Authorities reported that 200,000 TikTok accounts were deactivated on the ban's first day alone.
While critics have raised privacy and enforcement questions, Hall acknowledged the ban was 'partial and circumventable'. However, he compared it to other successful public health measures like compulsory seatbelts and smoking bans in pubs.
Case Studies and a Surge in Referrals
Hall cited recent tragic cases where online content played a role. He mentioned Axel Rudakubana, 17, who stabbed three girls to death in Southport, and Nicholas Prosper, 19, who murdered his mother and siblings. Both had consumed extreme violent material online, though their crimes were not classed as terrorism.
'Terrorist chatbots or avatars of celebrated mass killers, always present and eager to please, are precisely the wrong companions for disturbed teenagers,' Hall stated.
His call follows alarming data from the Metropolitan Police. Prevent scheme referrals in London rose by 38% from April 2024 to March 2025, with most cases involving under-18s. Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, the Met's Prevent coordinator, outlined classic signs of radicalisation to Metro, including withdrawal, anger, and changes in speech patterns.
'We've seen online spaces are almost certainly an accelerant,' she said.
A Wider Call for Action
The debate coincides with a Centre for Social Justice study suggesting over 800,000 British children under five are active on social media. Former education minister Lord Nash called this 'deeply alarming' and backed both a public health campaign and legislation raising the age limit to 16.
Hall concluded that removing devices from children is simpler than the tech companies' suggestion of parental monitoring, which he described as 'laughably... suggested as an alternative to regulation'.
