UK regulations for social media users under 16 will extend to gaming and AI chatbots.

      Britain is anticipated to implement restrictions on social media usage for children under 16, potentially prohibiting access to major platforms and limiting features considered too addictive for younger users, as reported on the government's intentions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly inclined to take more extensive measures after conversations with parents and reviewing evidence from Australia, which enacted a similar under-16 ban last year.

      According to the Guardian, the proposal would prohibit all individuals under 16 from using the main social media platforms. Applications not categorized as social media, such as gaming apps, would have their own restrictions instead of an outright ban, including measures to prevent children from being approached by strangers. Reports also indicate the introduction of evening curfews and limitations on AI chatbots as part of what officials have termed an “Australia-plus” strategy.

      The legislative framework is already in place. Part 3 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 mandates the government to enforce some form of age or functionality restrictions for those under 16, thus presenting the challenge for ministers as determining the specifics of the regulations rather than whether to implement them. A public consultation will be part of the process, allowing parents to provide input before the details are finalized.

      Britain is not alone in this initiative. Australia’s ban serves as a reference point for ministers, and Malaysia has also announced plans to introduce similar restrictions for those under 16. There appears to be a trend among various governments reaching similar conclusions regarding children and major platforms within a comparable timeframe.

      The inclusion of gaming apps and AI chatbots elevates the proposal beyond a simple platform ban since it incorporates products that are not typically considered social networks within the regulatory framework. Chatbots, in particular, have emerged as a recent concern for regulators, and their inclusion indicates that ministers are attempting to draft rules for a landscape that has evolved since the initial online safety laws were created.

      The practical challenges present more difficult questions. Implementing age verification on such a large scale has been contentious wherever attempted, raising concerns over potentially intrusive identity checks or systems that teenagers could easily bypass. Australia's implementation, which ministers frequently reference, has faced scrutiny over these very issues, making its experience crucial for the British consultation to consider. Industry groups have contended that strict age limits could push children towards less-regulated areas of the internet rather than removing them from it, posing a counter-argument that ministers will need to consider alongside the parental demand driving this policy.

      The methods of enforcement and how age verification will occur without affecting adults are tasks that the consultation and subsequent legislation will need to address. While the announcement sets the overall direction, the details of implementation will follow.