Starmer's announcement comes just one week after he gave tech companies three months to prevent children from taking, sending and receiving nude images. Taken together with the Online Safety Act, which requires all online services that could expose children to harmful content to verify people's ages, the UK's rules form some of the tightest global restrictions facing big tech companies. They're all designed to keep children safe, but the platforms have a different perspective. Responding to Starmer's announcement on Monday, some companies pointed out that banning mainstream platforms could pus
UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s, With Sweeping Restrictions for All Teens… The country brought in age restrictions for social media at the end of 2025, serving as an experimental testbed for other nations around the world. The UK said it will borrow from Australia's learnings, using highly effective age assurance to prevent children from bypassing safeguards. …
… In the past year, both Australia and the UK have enacted age verification measures to restrict access to "harmful content." While Australia's legislation has been called an "unmitigated disaster" by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, it's been reported that children in the UK have been drawing on musta… …
… Sony warns that additional restrictions could follow as individual publishers update their systems. The policy requiring age verification is the UK's Online Safety Act, which requires online platforms to shield children from harmful content and to verify users' ages. …
… The company ultimately delayed its age-verification requirements . Part of the challenge in implementing age-verification technology is avoiding disruption to platform engagement. …
… Communication safety According to Apple , Communication Safety blurs nudity in messages and FaceTime calls and will now "block gore or violent content when detected in shared images or videos." Time allowances A recommended digital time allowance will be added for each child account and each applic… …
… People can use VPNs to bypass age gates by connecting to servers in countries where there are no restrictions. But if mass age verification procedures are rolled out, many folks may turn to a free VPN, which CNET's VPN experts say is a security nightmare . …
… Many people around the world use VPNs to evade legal restrictions, bypass age verification requirements or access streaming services in other countries. …
Privacy in the digital age is more important than ever, and using a strong VPN can help keep your internet behavior safe from prying eyes. We write a lot about VPNs , and one provider has been making moves over the past two weeks to expand its global coverage. …
… In a statement supporting Starmer's announcement on device controls, the UK's National Crime Agency said the restrictions have the potential to stop some of the most serious forms of online child sexual abuse before they begin. …
… Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. …