The government’s double-barrelled assault on big tech came into sharper focus this week as ministers confirmed a social media ban for under-16s — but left key questions unanswered about which platforms are in, which are out, and how far the restrictions will reach.
Announced on Monday, the ban will apply to Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, the government confirmed. YouTube Kids, a separate app aimed at children, will be exempt. The government said its restrictions will closely follow Australia’s approach, which also bans Kick, Reddit, Threads and Twitch for under-16s.
“UK government confirms social media ban for under-16s while preparing to force platforms to amplify British news.”
Yet the fate of Roblox — hugely popular with children but accused of failing to keep them safe — remains unclear. Roblox says it has made changes to protect child users, including expanding age-estimation tools. “It is not yet clear how they will treat gaming sites,” said Lorna Woods, professor of internet law at Essex University. “Though if they follow the Australian approach, these will lie outside the Australian ban.” Regardless, under the new rules, Roblox and other gaming services must disable features that let strangers communicate with children. The government made a point of saying this restriction applies to gaming services, though children will still be able to play multiplayer online games.
YouTube warned that banning its platform risked pushing children to “anonymous, less safe services”. It argued it is a “vital resource for young people”. Citing research with consultancy Livity, Google said 95% of UK teens surveyed said watching videos helps with school work.
Ministers have said they will provide an update in July on further restrictions, including potential curfews, curbing of “addictive” features like infinite scroll and AI chatbots. Questions are already emerging about whether enforcing the ban will mean cracking down on virtual private networks (VPNs), which can disguise a user’s location.
Separately, the government is preparing to force social media platforms to boost the presence of British news providers to counter misinformation. Ministers are set to consult on rules requiring platforms like YouTube and Meta to make UK news sites such as the BBC more prominent — a move likely to ruffle feathers in big tech firms.