The UK is considering expanding a ban on social media features for people under 16, with draft rules that could bring up to 150 websites and apps into scope. Coverage points to a timetable in which ministers prepare the measures for Cabinet approval this week and, if Parliament passes them, the changes take effect in March.
Sources say the expansion depends on how “platforms” are defined in the final regulations under the UK Online Safety Act. Several outlets describe a shift toward capturing services that use recommender systems or messaging-like functions, even if they are not typically treated as social networks. That framing could affect child-facing services and mainstream platforms such as YouTube Kids, LegoPlay, Spotify and eBay.
Outlets also highlight that some services may have to demonstrate their systems do not create harmful algorithms or other under-16 risks, implying more technical compliance work for a wider set of providers. While the overall direction is similar across reporting, emphasis differs: some focus on specific potentially covered brands, while others stress the definitional and operational details that determine inclusion.
