The UK government has announced a large-scale online safety reform that includes a ban on social media use for children under 16. The new measures, which authorities call some of the toughest in the world, are planned to be submitted to parliament for consideration by the end of the year and could come into force as early as spring 2027.
As a basis, the British authorities intend to use a model previously adopted in Australia. The law will apply to platforms focused on user-generated content and social interaction, including TikTok, Instagram*, Facebook*, Snapchat, YouTube, and X. However, messengers like WhatsApp* and Signal will not be included in the list.
Tech giants had their chance and missed it. So we are taking on the task ourselves – to protect children, support parents, and set new norms for future generations.
However, the ban on social media is only part of the initiative. The government also intends to restrict a number of functions that, according to officials, may pose a risk to minors. This includes live broadcasts, as well as the ability for children to communicate with strangers online through the social functions of various gaming platforms.
This means that gaming platforms may face the need to redesign social functions, voice and text chats, player search systems, and other interaction tools. In addition, companies will have to implement stricter age verification mechanisms for users.
* Деятельность организации «Компания Meta (социальные сети Instagram и Facebook)» признана экстремистской и запрещена в РФ