Five big questions about the UK's under-16s social media ban

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Five big questions about the UK's under-16s social media ban19 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleLiv McMahon & Philippa WainTechnology reportersGetty ImagesAfter the government's announcement on Monday, we know a social media ban is coming for under-16s in the UK. However, details on which apps are and are not included, besides those named by the government, and how the measures will extend to gaming sites like Roblox, remain sparse. And many are already asking whether enforcing the ban will mean cracking down on virtual private networks (VPNs), which can disguise someone's location online.

Ministers have said they will provide an update on further restrictions like potential curfews, curbing of "addictive" features like infinite scroll and AI chatbots, in July. But here are some of the big unanswered questions about the UK social media ban. When will social media ban start, and which apps will be affected?

The Details

What does it mean for Roblox and other gaming sites? The government has only specified a handful of sites included in the UK's social media ban,These are Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. However, it says its restrictions will closely follow Australia's - where the above apps plus Kick, Reddit, Threads and Twitch are banned for under-16s.

So where does that leave Roblox and gaming sites like it? Roblox is hugely popular with children in the UK, but it has been accused of failing to keep them safe - including allegations it allowed children to be preyed upon by adults. Roblox says it has made changes to protect child users, including by expanding tools to estimate a user's age to determine the games and experiences they can access.

"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 it does end up being banned for under-16s, Roblox will still need to abide by requirements for all platforms to disable features that let strangers communicate with children, announced alongside the ban.

What Experts Say

The government made a point of saying this restriction would apply to gaming services. Children will still be able to participate in multiplayer online games, though, it adds. What about YouTube - and YouTube Kids?

YouTube is going to be included in the ban, but YouTube Kids will not be. However it is not yet clear how YouTube would tackle children accessing the platform through search without an account once a ban is enforced or how educational content could be carved out from any restrictions. YouTube said it was a "vital resource for young people" and that a ban risked pushing children towards "anonymous, less safe services".

But questions are emerging about what including YouTube in a ban would mean for children's access to educational videos on the site.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.