Social Media Regulation
Ongoing coverage on Social Media Regulation.
Latest coverage
Epic boss Tim Sweeney says the EU's social media ban for under-13s 'would be terrible for the next generation…
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized the European Union's proposed KIDS Act, which would ban social media use for children under 13 and restrict access for those aged 13-15. Sweeney argued that such regulations would stifle creativity and expression, comparing modern games like Fortnite and Roblox to essential tools for digital creation.
France's top court strikes down social media ban for children under 15
France's highest court has overturned a ban on social media access for children under 15. President Macron has requested the government to revise the proposed legislation.
Australia's social media ban for under-16s has had limited impact so far
Australia's recent social media ban for individuals under 16 has shown limited impact, with no significant change observed in AI chatbot usage among children. However, approximately 22 percent of children continue to use platforms like Pinterest.
Morning Legal Briefs
X has raised concerns that Australia's ban on social media access for individuals under 16 could interfere with international legal frameworks. The company views this as a potential overreach of national law into foreign jurisdictions.
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.
"Safety is never an endpoint." Roblox's James Kay on age verification and commitment to player safety
Roblox's James Kay discusses the company's ongoing commitment to player safety, highlighting recent enhancements like facial age estimation for chat features and mandatory parental controls. He emphasizes that safety is an evolving process, not an endpoint, and addresses the potential impact of the UK's upcoming social media ban on younger users.
Sunday Metaverse
Concerns are rising about government website redesigns potentially increasing surveillance, while a study suggests Australia's social media ban is ineffective. The article briefly mentions Elon Musk in relation to these topics.
Australia's social media ban may not be that effective, study finds
A recent study suggests that Australia's social media ban has been largely ineffective due to its reliance on self-declared age verification checks. The findings indicate that the current system is not adequately preventing underage access to social media platforms.
UK social media ban will restrict 'high-risk' features on game platforms
The UK government will ban social media for individuals under 16 and restrict 'high-risk' features like livestreaming and communication with strangers on video game platforms. This decision follows a public consultation showing strong parental support for stricter online safety measures. The UK video game industry trade body Ukie has welcomed the distinction between social media and gaming platforms and offered to collaborate on the new regulations, which are expected to come into effect in Spring 2027.
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.
Morning Metaverse
Fox is set to acquire Roku in a $22 billion deal, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Separately, UK politician Starmer announced plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms.
The UK's dramatic under-16 social media ban will also apply to "gaming services", but at least they're not coming for multiplayer
The UK government has announced a ban on social media platforms for individuals under 16, which will also extend to certain gaming services, set to take effect in spring 2027. While multiplayer gaming will not be affected, the government is considering age-gating access to gaming sites. The ban aims to protect children from harmful online content and manipulative algorithms, drawing parallels to similar regulations in Australia.
Ukie hails video games being classed separately from social media as UK government announces ban
The UK government has announced plans to ban social media for under-16s and implement wider online protections, classifying video games separately from social media. Ukie, the UK video games trade body, welcomed this distinction, emphasizing the industry's existing measures like the PEGI age rating system for ensuring child safety online. These new regulations, set to take effect by spring 2027, will include default blocks on communication features for users under 17 on various online services, including 'gaming sites'.
UK will ban social media for children under 16
The United Kingdom is implementing a ban on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for individuals under the age of 16. This move follows a similar regulatory approach taken by Australia concerning online child safety.
Canada announces bill banning social media for anyone under 16
Canada has announced a new bill that will ban social media access for individuals under the age of 16. The regulation also introduces safety expectations for AI chatbot services.
Morning Metaverse
Bluesky's COO has expressed concerns that social media regulations could stifle competition from smaller companies. Separately, Google Photos is rolling out a new 'Wardrobe' feature, and the article briefly touches on the topic of 'Momfluencers'.
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.
Turkey wants to ban social media for kids under 15
The Turkish parliament has passed a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media, requiring platforms to implement age verification and parental controls. The legislation also impacts online gaming companies, with potential penalties for non-compliance. This move follows similar regulatory trends in other countries like Greece, Austria, and Australia.
DOJ refuses to help French authorities in criminal probe of X
The US Department of Justice has refused to assist French authorities in a criminal probe against X, citing concerns that the investigation is an attempt to regulate the social media platform through prosecution. France's investigation into X, which began in July, includes accusations of algorithm manipulation, fraudulent data extraction, and potentially CSAM dissemination and Holocaust denial. X and xAI expressed gratitude for the DOJ's decision, calling the investigation baseless.
Estonia is the rare EU country opposing child social media bans
Estonia's education minister Kristina Kallas stated that child social media bans, proposed or enacted in several European countries, will not solve the underlying problems. She argued that the responsibility should lie with governments and corporations to regulate platforms, rather than placing the burden on children to self-regulate. The minister also warned that bans could lead to an erosion of freedoms and that children would likely find ways to circumvent such restrictions.