There has been clamour for Britain to replicate Australia by banning children under the age of 16 from using social media and the government has started a consultation on access to the platforms for youngsters.

However, the Labour administration is yet to make any firm commitments on what action they will take.

Phillipson told Times Radio: "It’s not a question of whether we take further action to protect young people, it’s the shape of that action, what that looks like. And there are a range of views, sincerely held, from campaigners, from families, who have different views as to how we can seek to get this right."

Asked for her view on the matter, the minister said: "I am genuinely open-minded, as I think a lot of people are, on wanting to see further action to keep young people safe online, wanting to reduce the harms, especially around some of the addictive nature of what young people are exposed to, but wanting to make sure that whatever measures we take forward, whatever shape that has, it stands the test of time, it works, and that it’s effective.

"And there are a number of different ways in which that can be achieved, and that’s why we’ve got a consultation to hear from people how we can do that, how we can make sure that it works, and how we can do everything within our power to keep children safe."

Education Minister Olivia Bailey declared in the House of Commons on Monday (27.04.26) that the government will impose "some form" of social media restrictions for under-16s.

The Labour MP said: "Let us be clear: the status quo cannot continue. We are consulting on the mechanism and that is the right thing to do.

"But we are clear that under any outcome we will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions for children under 16.

"I can also confirm that consideration of restrictions such as curfews will be in addition not instead of this."