UK government unveils social media crackdown: under-16 ban and new rules to boost British news

The government has announced a ban on social media for under-16s in the UK, naming Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X as the sites included. But questions are already mounting over which other platforms will be caught, as ministers say restrictions will closely follow Australia's – where Kick, Reddit, Threads and Twitch are also banned for the age group. The government has said it will provide an update on further measures, including potential curfews and curbing of 'addictive' features like infinite scroll and AI chatbots, in July. Roblox, hugely popular with children in the UK and accused of failing to keep them safe, remains a grey area. 'It is not yet clear how they will treat gaming sites,' said Lorna Woods, professor of internet law at Essex University, noting that under Australia's approach gaming sites lie outside the ban. Regardless, the government has made a point of saying a restriction on platforms letting strangers communicate with children will apply to gaming services, while children will still be able to participate in multiplayer online games. YouTube is included in the ban, but YouTube Kids will not be – raising questions about how children will access educational content. Google, citing research with consultancy Livity, says 95% of UK teens surveyed said watching videos helps with school work. YouTube itself said it was a 'vital resource for young people' and that a ban risked pushing children towards 'anonymous, less safe services'. The crackdown extends beyond age restrictions: ministers are also preparing to consult on rules that would require platforms like YouTube and Meta to boost the presence of British news providers, including the BBC, in a bid to counter misinformation – a move likely to ruffle big tech firms.