The UK government is considering introducing strict restrictions that would prevent children from using communication features to interact with strangers on popular gaming platforms such as Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Discord.
According to Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan, the regulation of gaming platforms could become part of a broader government strategy aimed at limiting young people's exposure to harmful online and social media features.
The proposed measures stem from the government's “Growing Up Online” consultation, which ran from March 2 to May 26, 2026. During the process, officials examined the potential introduction of age restrictions for social media platforms, gaming websites, and AI chatbots, while also assessing stricter age verification requirements and ways to combat addictive design features.
The UK government is currently considering two possible approaches:
- Introducing a complete social media ban for users under the age of 16, similar to the model adopted in Australia.
- Implementing targeted restrictions on specific features, including infinite scrolling feeds, video autoplay, location sharing, and personalized recommendation algorithms.
If gaming platforms are ultimately included in the regulatory framework, the UK would be taking a significantly stricter approach than Australia, where current restrictions focus primarily on traditional social media services.
Minister Narayan stated that one of the most serious risks identified during the review process is the ability of adults to contact children through “stranger matching” features. According to the government, this issue is particularly prevalent in online gaming environments. While some platforms already offer parental control tools, officials believe the existing safeguards do not go far enough.
The proposal has also received support from Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza. She noted that many boys spend three to four hours a day not on traditional social media platforms, but within online games.
“These games often include features that allow a 55-year-old person in Arizona to join and talk to a nine-year-old child. I would not describe this as a ban on children; rather, it is a restriction on services and features that are inappropriate for anyone under 18,” de Souza said.
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