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Snap is rolling out a change in the UK that turns off its Find Friends feature by default for users under 18, Ofcom announced. The tool uses data like age, location and existing contacts to suggest friends, and Snap says it aims to support safe, trusted connections. Ofcom says it will monitor completion of the rollout this month and expects Snap to add stronger age-verification checks by year's end.
New research examining jurisdictions that have imposed social media bans or age restrictions on young people finds limited evidence that the measures improve youth mental health outcomes. Some researchers interviewed compare the approach to alcohol or cigarette age restrictions, questioning whether similar enforcement gaps undermine effectiveness. The findings come as 2026 has proven a costly year for social media platforms navigating new regulations.
Australia is moving to enforce a law barring children under 16 from social media accounts, partly in response to accounts like Varsha Yajman's, who says platform algorithms pushed her toward pro-eating-disorder content as a teenager. Yajman, now 24 and recovering from anorexia, says she still receives weight-loss related content despite using strict safety settings and blocked keywords.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree requiring social media and content-sharing platforms to block minors from accessing material involving violence, hate speech, self-harm, sexual abuse and explicit sexual content. Platforms have 30 days to add age classifications, parental controls, stronger privacy settings and a round-the-clock contact point for authorities, with Mexico's ADTT overseeing compliance. The measures carry no penalties at first, though the government says it will pursue legislation if platforms fail to comply.
Ofcom is investigating whether Meta failed to conduct proper risk assessments before releasing the Instants feature on Instagram in May. The regulator claims the company did not adequately evaluate potential illegal or harmful content risks associated with the disappearing photo tool. Meta states it conducted risk analyses and informed Ofcom prior to launch, and will cooperate with the investigation.
Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Aylo, the owner of Pornhub, to determine whether the site's age verification system—introduced in May and reliant on Apple's third-party checks—actually prevents children from accessing pornography. The regulator says it has concerns Aylo may not have carried out sufficient testing before rolling out the process, which could breach the UK's Online Safety Act requirement for 'highly effective' age assurance.
The European Commission unveiled the EU Kids Act, a proposal that would bar children under 13 from social media entirely, require parental-managed sub-accounts with restrictions for 13- and 14-year-olds, and only allow independent accounts at 15. The plan also mandates platforms remove addictive design features like infinite scroll, nighttime notifications, and unsolicited contact from strangers, while requiring AI chatbots be disabled by default for minors.
The European Commission has proposed the EU Kids Act, which would prohibit chatbots from mimicking emotions or personal relationships when interacting with users under 18. The draft law also bars children under 13 from using chatbots without parental supervision, prevents chatbots from retaining memory across separate conversations, and stops platforms from auto-activating or prominently placing AI companions in minors' contact lists. Companies that fail to build in these child-safety protections could face fines up to 6% of their global turnover.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a proposal to bar children under 13 from using social media across all 27 EU member states. The plan also calls for supervised 'mini accounts' with restricted features for teens aged 13-15, and mandates 'safe design' standards for platforms serving 15-to-18-year-olds.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled plans to bar children under 13 from social media across all EU member states, part of an EU Kids Act being formally introduced this week. Teens aged 13 to 15 would only be permitted limited, parent-supervised mini accounts capped at one hour daily, while platforms face new safety design rules for users up to 18.
Australian lawmakers are considering new rules that would give users the ability to opt out of algorithm-driven content feeds on social media platforms. The move follows Australia's earlier push to ban social media access for teenagers, extending regulatory pressure on tech platforms operating in the country.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told MPs the government will draft legislation requiring smartphone makers and app providers to prevent under-18s from taking or sharing nude photos. This follows a three-month deadline given in June to Apple and Google, whose voluntary commitments Nandy said still fall short of addressing the crisis. The law would extend blocking measures beyond device operating systems to individual apps used by children.