Britain's counter-terrorism watchdog is advocating for stricter age-gating measures on social media, drawing inspiration from Australia's recent approach. The proposal centers on banning users under 16 from accessing major platforms, mirroring Australia's controversial legislation.

This push reflects growing concerns about radicalization, mental health impacts, and online safety for minors. While the UK terror agency frames it through a security lens, the broader debate touches on platform responsibility, parental control mechanisms, and the role of age verification technology.

For the crypto and Web3 space, this signals potential future compliance requirements. Exchanges and DeFi platforms already grapple with KYC/AML regulations; stricter age verification could become another layer of mandatory compliance. The conversation raises questions: How would platforms implement robust age-checking? Would blockchain-based identity solutions offer a path forward? And what's the balance between protecting minors and respecting digital privacy?

Australia's model, though not without critics, shows governments are willing to act. Whether other jurisdictions follow remains to be seen, but expect regulatory pressure to mount across markets.