Child Protection
Ongoing coverage on Child Protection.
Latest coverage
Why the world needs a Club Penguin successor – that isn't Roblox
Stephen MacDonald, a former senior manager at Disney for Club Penguin, discusses the need for a safe, successor virtual world for children, arguing that Roblox does not adequately protect its young users. He has founded Magic Potion Games to develop Imagine Island, a new game focused on robust moderation and child safety, aiming to fill the void left by Club Penguin's demise.
France will ban social media for children under 15
France has enacted a new law that will ban social media access for children under the age of 15. The legislation also prohibits the use of mobile phones within school premises.
UK social media crackdown presents a "threat" to gaming comms innovation, expert warns
A UK government plan to enhance online child safety, including a social media ban for under-16s and restrictions on features like livestreaming and chatting to strangers, poses a significant threat to innovation in the gaming industry. Experts warn that developers, especially smaller studios, may face costly implementation of age verification and communication controls, potentially limiting new game development and features. Concerns also exist that broader restrictions on 'addictive features' or simply time spent in-game could inappropriately impact game design elements and discourage engagement with complex or creative titles.
Roblox introduces age-based kids accounts in response to UK social media ban
Roblox is launching age-based account types, Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, to enhance online safety for younger users. These accounts introduce stricter restrictions on features like in-game chat and content sharing, aligning access with age. The move follows the UK government's announcement of legislation to ban under-16s from social media and implement new online gaming rules.
Social media is awful but the UK under-16 ban won't solve anything: 'Instead of punishing children, the…
The UK government's proposed ban on social media access for under-16s is criticized by multiple writers as an ineffective and misguided policy. They argue that such bans are easily circumvented, push children to less safe platforms, and fail to address the root causes of social media's negative impacts. Instead, the focus should be on holding tech companies accountable and improving platform regulation and parental guidance.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer targets online gaming in under-16 social media ban
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban social media and restrict online gaming features for individuals under 16. The proposed legislation aims to prevent children from communicating with strangers through in-game chat or livestreams, with specific measures to be implemented by game developers and regulated by Ofcom. The government intends to pass these regulations before the end of 2026, with enforcement expected in early 2027.
UK looks to ban children from using voice chat in games like Roblox and Fortnite
The UK government is considering a ban on children using voice chat with strangers in games like Fortnite and Roblox as part of new Online Safety Act proposals. Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan stated the government is exploring restrictions to reduce contact between minors and unknown adults online, with Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza highlighting the significant amount of time children spend gaming and using voice features.
Apple expands parental controls to include automatic image filtering
Apple is enhancing its parental controls with new features, including automatic image filtering. This update aims to bolster child protection measures on its devices.
The UK government is considering banning children from speaking to strangers in games like Fortnite and Roblox
The UK government is considering expanding a potential social media ban for children to include online video game platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. The concern, raised by online safety minister Kanishka Narayan and echoed by Children's Commissioner for England Rachel De Souza, is the risk of 'stranger pairing' between children and adults. Roblox, in particular, has faced scrutiny over child safety issues.
Kids might not be able to talk on Fortnite or Roblox anymore, as UK government moves to stop chatting in games
The UK government is considering banning children from using voice chat in online games like Fortnite and Roblox to prevent them from talking to strangers. This potential measure is part of the broader Online Safety Act, aimed at protecting young people online. Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan and Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza have expressed support for such restrictions, citing concerns about children's safety on gaming platforms.
UK May Place Heavy Social Restrictions On Games Targeted Towards Kids
The United Kingdom is considering significant social restrictions on games popular with children, such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, as part of a potential online safety bill. Online safety minister Kanishka Narayan suggested a ban on children interacting with strangers in online games could be implemented. The government is reportedly examining Australia's child social media ban as a model, though no formal decision has been made.
UK social media ban could impact video game platforms
UK online safety minister Kanishka Narayan is considering extending a potential social media ban for children to video game platforms, citing concerns about online interactions between minors and adults. This discussion comes as the UK government explores policies to protect young people online, with specific worries raised about features in games like Roblox and Fortnite that allow user-to-user communication. Officials are weighing the effectiveness and potential harms of such restrictions, drawing parallels to Australia's social media ban.
UK considering banning kids from speaking to strangers in Fortnite and Roblox
The UK government is considering new regulations that could ban children from speaking with strangers on gaming platforms like Fortnite and Roblox as part of a broader social media safety initiative. Online safety minister Kanishka Narayan stated that 'stranger pairing' on gaming platforms is a significant concern. While specific measures are unclear, the proposals aim to protect young people from potential online harms.
Texas imposes a TRO against Discord that blocks multiple chat and app features for Texans
A temporary restraining order has been issued against Discord, requiring the platform to implement stricter content blocking and disable certain features for users in Texas. The order mandates blocking sensitive content, disabling open friend requests, and turning off direct message permissions by default. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton lauded the ruling, accusing Discord of failing to protect children from predators.
Meta, Snap and Roblox commit to tougher anti-grooming measures in UK
Meta, Snap, and Roblox have committed to implementing tougher anti-grooming measures in the UK following urging from Ofcom. These social networks will enhance their safety protocols to protect users, particularly children, from online grooming.
Roblox Safety Score: An Honest Assessment for Adult Gamers (2026) | TAG
Roblox, a user-generated content platform with over 111 million daily active users, is undergoing intense scrutiny regarding its safety infrastructure. Despite significant investments in moderation and safety initiatives, the platform faces legal challenges in multiple states for allegedly failing to protect children from predators. The article assesses Roblox's safety score, highlighting the tension between its robust safety measures and documented failures, particularly concerning the interaction between adults and minors on the platform.
The EU thinks Meta isn't doing enough to protect children
The European Union has launched a preliminary investigation into Meta, finding the company is not doing enough to protect children on its platforms. The investigation specifically targets Instagram and Facebook, suggesting Meta is failing to adequately prevent minors from accessing these services.
Australian Government Demands to Know What Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam are Doing to Prevent Grooming, Radicalisation
The Australian government has formally requested information from major gaming platforms including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam regarding their strategies to combat grooming and radicalization. These companies are now required to provide mandatory responses detailing their safety measures.
Steam, Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite risk "becoming onramps to abuse, extremist violence, radicalisation or lifelong harm", claim Australian government
The Australian government has issued transparency notices to Valve, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Roblox Corporation, demanding action to prevent their platforms from becoming conduits for abuse, extremist violence, and radicalization. eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant highlighted concerns about grooming and the embedding of violent narratives, citing specific examples on Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam.
Australia targets Steam, Roblox and others in new legal push against extremists and predators
Australia's eSafety agency has issued legal notices to Valve (Steam), Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, demanding explanations on their measures against sexual predators and extremists. The platforms are legally required to detail their strategies for combating child grooming and the spread of violent propaganda. Failure to comply could result in substantial fines under Australia's Online Safety Act.
