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UK plans default overnight social media restrictions for teenagers

The UK government plans to introduce default overnight social media restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds, alongside measures to limit features designed to encourage prolonged platform use.

Social media platforms will be expected to activate overnight restrictions from midnight to 6 a.m. by default for users in this age group. Teenagers will be able to change the settings, but the protections will be enabled automatically.

Autoplay and continuously personalised content feeds will also be disabled by default. The government said these features can encourage prolonged use and reinforce potentially addictive patterns of engagement.

The measures are intended to avoid a sudden reduction in online protections when children turn 16. They complement the government’s previously announced plans to prohibit social media services from being offered to children under 16 from spring 2027.

The proposals follow a government pilot involving more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK. Participating families said the overnight restrictions became part of their routines and helped improve sleep and concentration.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said older teenagers should retain greater independence while continuing to receive protection from features that could negatively affect their wellbeing.

The government also plans additional protections for children using AI chatbots. Proposed measures include encouraging regular breaks for users under 18 and taking action against services that provide dangerous, misleading or unverified mental health advice.

Ministers will work with regulators and other government departments to consider further restrictions, including possible bans on chatbots considered to pose a serious risk to children. Guidance for children, parents and guardians will also be added to the Kids Online Safety Hub.

Schools will strengthen media literacy through Relationships, Sex and Health Education classes covering AI, chatbots, misinformation and harmful online content. From September 2028, media literacy will also be embedded across the National Curriculum, including lessons on AI, data science, source analysis and technological bias.

The first regulations supporting the under-16 social media restrictions are expected to be presented to Parliament by the end of 2026, with implementation and enforcement planned for spring 2027.

Why does it matter?

The proposals reflect a growing shift from focusing solely on access to social media towards regulating how digital services are designed and used. By targeting autoplay, personalised feeds and AI chatbots alongside age-based protections, the government is seeking to address features that may contribute to excessive use and online harms.

If adopted, the measures could further shape debates on youth online safety beyond the UK, reinforcing the trend towards safety-by-design, stronger protections for minors and greater platform responsibility for children’s digital wellbeing.

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Two in five UK children say they bypass online age checks

Nearly two in five UK children aged 11 to 17 say they have successfully bypassed an online age check, according nationally representative research commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The study surveyed 2,299 children in May 2026 to examine their experiences with age assurance, VPN use and methods of bypassing age checks. It also included an additional sample of recent VPN users.

Overall, 39% said they had successfully bypassed an age check at least once, while another 14% had tried unsuccessfully. Success rates rose from 28% among 11- to 12-year-olds to 43% among older teenagers.

Many children avoided age checks altogether by choosing websites, apps or games that either had no age verification or appeared easy to bypass. Among those who successfully circumvented checks, 63% said they simply pretended to be older, most commonly by entering a false date of birth.

Most successful circumvention involved simple self-declaration systems such as tick boxes and date-of-birth fields, which children also rated as the least effective.

By contrast, 86% of respondents who had encountered government ID verification considered it effective, while third-party identity services, payment card verification and facial age estimation also received substantially higher ratings.

Privacy was the most common reason for using a VPN. However, 22% of VPN users said they had used one to access age-restricted websites, apps or games, equivalent to 7% of all children surveyed.

Parents were involved in some VPN use. Among children who had used one, 22% received help from a parent to set it up, while 43% of current users said a parent paid for the service. However, older teenagers were more likely to install VPNs without parental knowledge.

Friends were the main source of information about bypassing age checks, cited by half of children who had done so. Practical consequences appeared to be the strongest deterrents, including harder-to-defeat checks, permanent account bans, and notifying parents about circumvention attempts.

The report also found an association between bypassing age checks and exposure to harmful content. Among children who had circumvented age checks, 51% reported later encountering at least one form of harmful material, including explicit content, contact from unknown adults and requests for personal information.

The researchers cautioned that the findings rely on self-reported behaviour and do not establish that VPN use or circumvention directly caused exposure to harmful content.

Why does it matter?

The findings suggest that basic self-declaration systems provide limited protection for children and are easily circumvented. As regulators increasingly require stronger age assurance under frameworks such as the UK’s Online Safety Act, the challenge will be deploying systems that are both effective and proportionate while protecting users’ privacy.

The research also highlights that technology alone is unlikely to solve the problem. Children’s motivations, platform design, parental involvement and digital literacy all influence whether age restrictions are respected, suggesting that meaningful online safety will require a combination of technical safeguards, regulation and education.

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Viber brings ChatGPT into its messaging app

Rakuten Viber has launched ChatGPT-powered tools inside its messaging app through a new partnership with OpenAI.

The integration allows users to ask questions in a dedicated ChatGPT chat or tab, mention @ChatGPT in supported private and group chats, summarise conversations and shared links, polish draft messages, translate messages and remix images.

Viber said most tools are available after users update the app, without requiring ChatGPT registration.

Image Remix requires users to log in to ChatGPT within Viber or create a free account. OpenAI says availability may vary by region, app version, account and chat type.

The privacy model depends on the feature used. Viber says its core messaging features remain protected by end-to-end encryption, while ChatGPT-powered tools are activated only when users choose to use them.

When a ChatGPT-powered feature is used, Viber sends OpenAI the information needed to process that request. Depending on the feature, that may include selected messages, drafts, images, prompts, link content, messages that mention @ChatGPT, timestamps, approximate location and a Viber-generated hashed user ID.

OpenAI says data sent from ChatGPT-powered features in Viber personal and group chats is not used to train its models, except for conversations in the ChatGPT tab.

If a user connects a ChatGPT account, activity may be associated with that account and handled under OpenAI’s standard retention and data settings.

Why does it matter?

The launch brings generative AI into everyday messaging, moving ChatGPT from a separate assistant into conversations, links, drafts, translations and images. That makes AI tools more accessible, but also creates a more complex privacy model. Users need to understand when messages remain inside an end-to-end encrypted chat and when selected content is sent to OpenAI for processing. For messaging platforms, the key governance challenge is adding useful AI features while preserving user control, clear consent and transparent data handling.

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UK launches toy safety review as AI-enabled toys emerge

The UK government has launched a Call for Evidence on toy safety, including whether existing rules remain suitable as AI-enabled toys and online shopping create new risks for children.

The review is led by the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Product Safety and Standards. It aims to assess whether the UK’s toy safety framework is fit for modern products and purchasing habits.

The government said the Call for Evidence will examine issues including chemical safety and toys that use AI features.

Consumer Protection Minister Kate Dearden said toy safety rules must keep pace with changes in how people shop and the types of toys children use.

The Call for Evidence is open until 6 October 2026 and invites views from parents, consumer groups, businesses, enforcement authorities and the wider public.

The review forms part of a wider UK programme to reform product safety rules, including measures aimed at unsafe goods sold through online marketplaces.

It does not introduce new toy safety rules immediately, but it will help the government decide how to update the framework.

Why does it matter?

AI-enabled toys raise product safety questions that go beyond traditional concerns such as chemicals, small parts or physical defects. Connected and interactive toys may involve software, data use, voice interaction, recommendation systems or adaptive behaviour, creating new risks for children and new responsibilities for manufacturers, retailers and online marketplaces. The UK review shows how AI is entering mainstream consumer product safety policy, not only digital regulation.

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Pew survey finds majority support social media ban for under-16s

A Pew Research Center survey has found that 56% of US adults support banning children under 16 from using social media sites.

The survey, conducted from 26 May to 1 June 2026 among 9,750 US adults, found that 21% oppose such a ban, while 23% are unsure.

Pew said the findings come as governments around the world weigh stronger restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media.

Support for an under-16 ban extends across major demographic and partisan groups. Pew found that 65% of parents with a child under 18 support the measure, compared with 52% of adults without a child under 18.

Support is also higher than opposition among both Republicans and Democrats. Pew reported that 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support the ban, compared with 54% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults.

The survey also found broad support for other measures aimed at minors’ social media use. Around 85% of US adults support requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, while 78% support age verification and 78% support time limits for minors.

Support for these measures has increased since 2023, according to Pew, especially for age verification and time limits.

Why does it matter?

The findings suggest that child online safety restrictions are gaining wider public support in the United States, including across party lines and among adults without children. That could give lawmakers more political space to propose age verification, parental consent and time-limit rules. The survey also shows that support is not limited to outright bans: many Americans favour a broader set of safeguards that would change how platforms verify age and manage minors’ access.

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UNESCO report calls for regional approach to digital platform regulation

A UNESCO report has called for a more coordinated regional approach to digital platform regulation in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, warning that existing legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with the risks posed by online platforms.

The report, ‘The Regulation of Digital Platforms in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: From Diagnosis to a Roadmap for Action‘, examines Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic. It assesses how national legal frameworks align with UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

The report finds that all seven countries provide constitutional protections for freedom of expression, privacy and safeguards against prior censorship. However, most still lack comprehensive rules for digital intermediaries and robust personal data protection frameworks, with Mexico and Panama identified as partial exceptions.

According to UNESCO, these regulatory gaps have encouraged sector-specific, reactive or punitive measures rather than the shared responsibility, transparency and accountability model promoted in its guidelines. The report also highlights concerns about regulatory independence, noting that some oversight bodies remain subordinate to executive authorities.

Electoral integrity is identified as a major concern. The report says social media platforms, microtargeting and generative AI have outpaced the capacity of many electoral authorities, increasing exposure to disinformation and manipulation. Panama is highlighted as an exception because it has criminalised large-scale manipulation through bots and deepfakes.

The roadmap recommends shifting regulation away from individual content moderation towards oversight of platform systems, algorithms, transparency and risk management. It also calls for moderation practices that better reflect local languages, cultures and indigenous communities.

The report concludes that countries in the region have limited bargaining power when dealing individually with major technology companies. It recommends stronger regional cooperation, including negotiating blocs, and suggests using banking and tax authorities to improve oversight of advertising revenues, monetisation and other platform-related economic activity.

Why does it matter?

The report argues that effective digital platform governance requires regional cooperation rather than fragmented national approaches. For many smaller countries, limited regulatory capacity and bargaining power make it difficult to influence the practices of global technology companies or address cross-border challenges such as disinformation, algorithmic transparency and AI-enabled manipulation.

The recommendations also reflect a broader shift in platform regulation. Instead of focusing primarily on individual pieces of content, UNESCO advocates greater oversight of platform design, algorithms, transparency and systemic risks, aligning with emerging international approaches to digital governance.

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Canadian ministers to discuss Safe Social Media Act

Canadian Heritage will hold an in-person roundtable in Winnipeg on Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, as the government continues public discussion on its proposed online safety framework.

The event will bring together Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, and Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State for Sport. Media representatives have been invited to attend the conclusion of the discussion, followed by an informal media availability.

The Safe Social Media Act was introduced on 10 June 2026 and would create new duties for social media services, AI chatbot services and other regulated online services. The government says the bill is intended to make platforms more responsible for addressing harmful content and creating safer online spaces, especially for children and young people.

The bill would enact the Digital Safety Act and establish the Digital Safety Commission of Canada. The proposed framework focuses on platform accountability, child protection, transparency and the prevention of online harms before they occur.

The legislation comes amid growing international debate over children’s access to social media, age restrictions, harmful content, platform design and the role of AI chatbots in online safety.

The Winnipeg roundtable signals continued government engagement with stakeholders as Bill C-34 moves through the parliamentary process.

Why does it matter?

Canada’s Safe Social Media Act is part of a wider global shift towards stronger online safety rules focused on children and young people. By covering social media services and AI chatbots, the bill reflects growing concern that harmful content, platform design and AI-driven interactions can affect child safety, mental health and exposure to exploitation. The proposed Digital Safety Commission would also create a new federal oversight structure for platform accountability.

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Meta launches new AI glasses with Muse Spark assistant

Meta has launched a new generation of AI glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, expanding its push to make wearable AI a mainstream consumer technology.

The new Meta Glasses build on the company’s existing AI eyewear portfolio and will launch with 26 styles across different colours, lenses and frames.

Meta said the glasses include hands-free photo and video capture, open-ear audio, voice control, calls and messaging, live translation and access to Meta AI. The company also said the device offers more than eight hours of battery life, with a charging case providing up to 40 additional hours.

The glasses are the first in Meta’s AI eyewear line to launch with Meta AI powered by Muse Spark from day one. Meta said the model, developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs, gives the assistant stronger multimodal capabilities, including a better understanding of what users are seeing.

The company said the assistant can answer questions, suggest local recommendations, support daily tasks and help users manage schedules hands-free. Meta is also adding features such as dynamic photo capture, pedestrian navigation for displayless glasses and live translation support for 14 additional languages.

The launch reflects growing competition in AI wearables, as technology companies seek new interfaces beyond smartphones. By combining AI assistance with everyday eyewear, Meta is trying to position smart glasses as a practical gateway to always-available AI services.

Why does it matter?

AI glasses move digital assistants closer to the physical world, giving AI systems access to what users see, hear and do throughout the day. That could make AI more useful for translation, navigation, accessibility and hands-free computing, but it also raises questions over privacy, bystander consent, data collection and dependence on platform-controlled AI assistants.

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OECD examines young people’s social media use

The OECD has warned that young people are growing up in a social media age that offers opportunities for creativity and connection, but also creates risks for learning, well-being and online safety.

In a new Digital Economy Paper, ‘Growing up in the social media age’, the OECD reviews research on young people’s social media use and analyses data from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment. The paper focuses mainly on 15-year-olds and examines links between social media use, academic outcomes, creative thinking and policy responses.

The OECD says social media is almost universal among 15-year-olds. Around 95% report browsing social media daily, while 88% report communicating or sharing digital content on social platforms. On average, 15-year-olds across the OECD spend almost 35 hours a week on social media.

The paper says the evidence on social media and well-being remains complex. Excessive use is often associated with negative outcomes, but correlations do not prove that social media directly causes lower academic performance, poorer mental health or reduced well-being.

The OECD finds that moderate social media use is associated with stronger academic performance than either no use or heavy use. Mathematics performance is highest among students who use social media moderately, while performance tends to decline as time spent on social media exceeds 3 hours a day.

Creative thinking follows a similar pattern. Scores peak at moderate levels of browsing social media, usually one to three hours per day, but decline when students spend more than one hour communicating or sharing digital content.

The paper also notes that school mobile phone bans are becoming more common, but implementation remains difficult. Across the OECD, 29% of 15-year-olds in schools that ban mobile phones still reported using their phone at school several times a day.

The OECD says governments need balanced policies that help young people benefit from social media while protecting them from risks, and that safeguards should also respect freedom of expression, privacy, innovation and fair competition.

Why does it matter?

The OECD paper is useful because it pushes the debate beyond a simple ‘ban or allow’ framing. It shows that young people’s social media use is widespread and often excessive, yet moderate use can be associated with positive outcomes. For policymakers, the challenge is to design rules on school phone use, age limits and platform obligations that protect children without cutting them off from digital participation, creativity and social connection.

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Meta expands AI-powered teen safety protections across its platforms

Meta has announced new teen safety updates across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, including expanded age-appropriate content settings, AI-powered age detection, and new parental notification tools.

Meta said the updates are designed to ensure teens receive appropriate protections by default, give parents greater visibility into online activity and strengthen safeguards that support young people’s well-being.

Meta said its 13+ default content setting, recently introduced in India, is now rolling out globally across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The setting is designed to limit exposure to age-inappropriate content by default, drawing on established content-rating principles and parent feedback.

On Facebook, the 13+ default setting is intended to hide content considered inappropriate for teens in areas such as Feed and Reels. It also limits teens’ ability to interact with Profiles, Pages, Groups, and Events that primarily post inappropriate content.

On Messenger, the 13+ default setting limits teens’ ability to view links to inappropriate Facebook content or chat with accounts that primarily share it.

Meta is also expanding its use of AI-powered age estimation systems to identify accounts that may belong to underage users. The company said the system analyses profile context, including birthday celebrations, school-grade mentions, posts, comments, bios, and captions, to assess whether an account is likely to belong to someone underage.

The company said it is adding visual analysis as another detection technique. According to Meta, the technology analyses photos and videos for general indicators associated with age, such as physical characteristics, but does not identify individuals and does not use facial recognition.

Meta said combining visual signals with text and interaction analysis could increase the number of underage accounts it identifies and removes. The technology will be expanded across additional parts of its apps, including Instagram Reels, Instagram Live, and Facebook Groups.

Instagram will also notify supervising parents if a teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period, subject to supervision settings. Meta said the feature has been rolled out to supervising parents in the EU, Brazil, and India, with parents and teens receiving notifications that the alerts are on the way.

Parents using supervision can now manage their teens’ activity through Meta’s Family Center across Instagram, Meta Horizon, Facebook, and Messenger. Meta said parents will also be able to see a more holistic view of teen activity across its apps in the coming months, including aggregated time spent.

Why does it matter?

The announcement reflects a broader shift towards age-appropriate design, where platforms increasingly rely on default protections and automated systems rather than expecting young users or parents to configure safety settings themselves. AI-based age detection is becoming a central tool in efforts to identify underage users and enforce platform safeguards at scale.

The update also highlights ongoing debates about the balance between child protection, privacy and platform accountability. While automated age-estimation technologies may help improve online safety, regulators and civil society groups continue to scrutinise their accuracy, transparency and potential impact on users’ rights. As governments around the world consider stricter child online safety requirements, platform approaches such as Meta’s may influence future regulatory expectations.

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