A planned UK ban on social media for under-16s could reach YouTube Kids, Lego Play and even Spotify, leaving families and companies unsure what is blocked.
The UK's planned social media ban for under-16s may be much wider than expected. Sources briefed on the government's proposals say it could catch YouTube Kids and Lego Play, services many assumed were safe. One source says up to 150 platforms could be covered. The ban is due to start in March.
When Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the ban in June, the government promised a narrow list of exemptions. Educational services, online shops and music streaming were meant to be left out. The working proposal now focuses on two features: recommender systems, which suggest videos, songs or products, and content posted by users. Many services have both.
Spotify could technically fall in scope because it has some user-posted content and recommends music and podcasts. It has asked for reassurance that it would not be banned, since it is not mainly a social platform.
Ministers reportedly want a catch-all approach that leaves few workarounds. Critics of Australia's ban say teens simply moved to other platforms or found other ways to message. One industry source said the whole internet has a recommender system, and that the rules are too broad.
Online safety minister Ian Murray told MPs that a platform can get off the banned list by redesigning its service to remove harmful or addictive features. He said YouTube Kids and Lego Play would need to show they do not have harmful algorithms. Industry bodies reply that YouTube Kids stops working without its recommender system, so that route may not be realistic for it.
That second round could cover online marketplaces such as Vinted, eBay and Depop. Campaigners worry that teens and groomers can find ways to talk to each other on sites that allow messages from strangers. Several retailers strongly contested the plan on a call with officials. One industry figure called it illogical to ban those sites while leaving WhatsApp and iMessage alone.
Nothing is final. Which apps your child can still use after March may stay unclear until the rules are published and companies explain how they will comply. Businesses with teen users face the same uncertainty. One industry source said that detailed guidelines cannot come soon enough.
The UK ban could reach far beyond classic social media, so expect the list of blocked apps to stay unclear until the December rules and spring follow-up.
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