1. What does it mean for Roblox and other gaming sites?
Following the UK government's announcement on Monday, a social media ban for under-16s is forthcoming. However, specifics on which applications are included remain limited beyond those explicitly named by the government. The impact on gaming platforms such as Roblox is yet to be clarified.
The government has identified several platforms subject to the ban: Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. It has indicated that its restrictions will closely mirror those of Australia, where in addition to the aforementioned apps, Kick, Reddit, Threads, and Twitch are also banned for under-16s.
This raises questions about Roblox and similar gaming sites. Roblox enjoys significant popularity among UK children but has faced criticism for insufficient child safety measures, including allegations of adult predation. Roblox has responded by enhancing protections, such as expanding tools to estimate user age to regulate accessible games and experiences.
"It is not yet clear how they will treat gaming sites," says Lorna Woods, professor of internet law at Essex University. "Though if they follow the Australian approach, these will lie outside the Australian ban."
Regardless of whether Roblox is banned for under-16s, it must comply with requirements to disable features that allow strangers to communicate with children, a restriction announced alongside the ban. The government emphasized that this rule applies to gaming services. Children will still be permitted to participate in mult online games.
2. What about YouTube - and YouTube Kids?
YouTube is included in the ban, whereas YouTube Kids is excluded. However, it remains unclear how YouTube will prevent children from accessing the platform via search without an account once the ban is enforced or how educational content will be exempted from restrictions.
YouTube described itself as a "vital resource for young people" and cautioned that a ban could drive children toward "anonymous, less safe services." Concerns have arisen regarding the implications of banning YouTube on children's access to educational videos.
Google cited research conducted with consultancy firm Livity, noting that 95% of UK teens surveyed reported that watching videos aids their schoolwork.
The government stated there will be "a narrowly defined list of exemptions" within the social media ban's platform definitions to ensure educational services remain accessible to children.
3. Why are platforms like WhatsApp and Pinterest not included?
Messaging applications such as WhatsApp are not expected to be included in the ban. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is used by half of all 8-17 year olds in the UK, according to Ofcom.
The government is still determining which platforms will fall under the restrictions but does not anticipate including messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal.
The ban targets platforms "whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material." This definition likely excludes messaging apps but could theoretically apply to platforms like Discord and Pinterest. However, these, along with Bluesky, Tumblr, and Telegram, are absent from Australia's banned list.
4. Will enforcing this mean cracking down on VPNs?
Enforcement of the UK's social media ban raises significant questions, particularly regarding virtual private networks (VPNs), which can mask users' locations online.
The government plans to implement "highly effective age assurance" measures, involving stricter checks to accurately identify or estimate users' ages. These may include facial age estimation technology, photo ID matching, or digital identity services such as Yoti.
Following the announcement, VPN downloads surged, and some, including the Children's Commissioner, have advocated for age restrictions on VPN use for young people.
VPN providers and privacy experts argue that regulating VPNs would require collecting user data for verification, undermining the privacy that motivates their use. There is speculation that tech-savvy children might use VPNs to circumvent social media restrictions.
The government has not disclosed plans to regulate VPNs but indicated that further details, including potential actions related to VPN use, will be provided in July.
Children's minister Josh MacAlister told the BBC there were "options there about whether we could age-gate VPN use, which would be really welcome."
The prime minister acknowledged it was inevitable some teens would attempt to bypass the ban but emphasized that this should not prevent legislation to protect current and future UK children.
5. Will this really happen by next spring?
Regulating the rapidly evolving technology sector can be protracted, as evidenced by the years-long process to enact the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), which is still being implemented.
However, the government recently utilized powers under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act to introduce further restrictions via regulations, avoiding the need for a full Act of Parliament and enabling a faster response.
Tech Secretary Liz Kendall stated to MPs on Monday:
"I want a vote on it by the end of the year, and I want it to come into force as early as possible in the first couple of months of 2027."
Nonetheless, if technology companies challenge the government's process through judicial review, this could delay the ban's implementation.
"Whilst primary legislation is effectively immune from challenge, secondary legislation is subject to review by the courts as it lacks the rigorous multi-stage scrutiny required for statutes," says Giulia Carloni, senior associate at law firm Winston Taylor.
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