The United Kingdom will also prohibit access to social networks for minors under 16 years of age, also limiting live streaming

Social networks began as platforms to share ideas, photos and other content with friends and acquaintances. However, the multinationals behind these platforms soon saw a way to get the most out of these services by implementing aggressive algorithms to create addiction in their users, especially minors, and bombarding them with content from accounts external to the circle of contacts.

Several rulings have confirmed this fact, but it seems that, today, the system of harmful algorithms continues to operate without much control in the main social networks on the Internet, which has led authorities in many countries to begin applying restrictions.

It is a logical movement and a trend that other countries and organizations have already embraced: The European Union itself has already shown its intentions of not allowing minors under 16 years of age to access social networks without parental permission; France banned access to those under 15 and Spain did the same with those under 16. Naturally, the billionaires behind these companies cried foul; some, like the Russian Pavel Durov, using his own Telegram application to send massive messages against.

It is prohibited to access social networks under 16 years of age

Now it’s up to the United Kingdom, where The British government has announced a regulation to completely prohibit access to social networks for those under 16 years of age.. Following the model already proposed by Australia, the veto will affect platforms based on algorithms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook and YouTube.

The regulations will be processed in Parliament before Christmas with the idea that the restrictions come into force in the spring 2027. The executive hides behind the fact that infinite feeds and live broadcasts are impossible to moderate, and ensure that the measure has the support of the majority of parents after a public consultation.

The restrictions will also affect the world of video games and streaming

Minors under 16 years of age will also be prohibited from live streaming and tools that allow strangers to speak directly with children within any online platform or game will be blocked, forcing services to block this function even up to the age of 17 to make access more gradual.

We will have to see how they manage to apply this blockade without it becoming a drain. The country’s government has ordered Ofcom (the telecommunications regulator) to look into effective age verification systems.