Expert: Social media's too risky for kids

GIVING children "dumbphones" and banning them from social media is the only way to steer them away from extreme violence online, a counter-terror expert has warned.

- BY DAVE BURKE

Jonathan Hall urged ministers to "be bold" and bring in an Australian-style block.

He warned that age verification and new laws around algorithms will not be enough to stop teenagers like Southport knife killer Axel Rudakubana.

Mr Hall, the UK's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and State Threat Legislation, said he knew of one recent case where a teenager "wanted to copy" Rudakubana after being inspired online.