United Kingdom considers new restrictions for minors on gaming platforms

The government of the United Kingdom is considering introducing a new law that would ban children under 16 from communicating with strangers in online games. The measure would apply to popular titles such as Fortnite and Minecraft, and follows similar steps taken by several other countries to protect minors on social media platforms.

Background to the law

The new law is intended to regulate how minors interact with strangers within the gaming community. At present, many online games, including Roblox and Discord, have few or no widely enforced age restrictions in place. The law is a response to concerns about child safety on digital platforms, where young users often come into contact with unknown people without supervision.

Focus on gaming

Rachel de Souza, the UK Children's Commissioner, has highlighted gaming as a specific focus area of the bill, noting that many young boys spend more time gaming than on social media. Under the law, it would become harder for children to communicate freely with strangers, a practice that is currently common in many gaming communities.

Similar legislation in other countries

The consideration of this new law comes amid growing international concern about child safety on online platforms. Several other countries have already introduced new rules aimed at protecting minors from the risks of online interactions. This global trend has increased pressure on governments to consider stricter measures.

Social media regulation

In addition to restrictions on games, the proposed legislation also targets social media channels. Features such as endless scrolling and autoplay, which are often aimed at minors, are under lawmakers' scrutiny. The goal is to improve the content available to young users and keep them safer in their online interactions.