Venture Kick

Countries Moving to Ban Social Media for Children

Multiple countries have announced or proposed laws to restrict social media access for children and teens, aiming to reduce harms such as cyberbullying, addiction and exposure to predators. Australia was first, enacting a ban for under-16s in December 2025 and requiring platforms to use age-verification methods or face fines. The U.K. government, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 15, 2026, said it will ban social media for under-16s and exclude some messaging apps; limits on certain AI chatbots were also proposed. Other governments either have passed, drafted or proposed similar measures with varying minimum ages (commonly 14–16) — including Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany (proposal), Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. Critics warn about privacy, enforceability and effectiveness of age checks.

UK may ban social media for under‑16s

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reported to be set to announce a policy banning social media use for children under 16. Reports say the ban would mirror Australia's list of covered platforms — including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch and Kick — while excluding most gaming apps from an outright ban but restricting features such as chatting with strangers for younger users. The policy would also bar users under 18 from accessing romantic or sexual chatbots and seek to limit late‑night scrolling. Some enforcement could use existing regulatory powers, though new legislation may be required. Supporters cite child safety and mental‑health concerns; critics warn of privacy risks, child isolation, and limited evidence of benefits.

Viewbotting Threatens Livestreams; Twitch Outlines Crackdown

Viewbotting — the use of automated software to inflate livestream viewer counts — is growing more sophisticated as AI makes fake accounts appear lifelike. Platforms and creators face harms including distorted discoverability, creator reputational damage, and marketplace contamination that can mislead brand sponsorships. Streams Charts says viewbotting began before 2016 and has evolved from simple idle scripts to AI-driven bots that mimic chat and device fingerprints. Platforms including Twitch and YouTube say they have detection systems and policies against fake engagement; Twitch CEO Dan Clancy announced a new enforcement that temporarily caps concurrent viewers based on historical non-fraud traffic, with longer penalties for repeat offenders. Brands and creator-focused sellers warn inflated metrics can distort sponsorship pricing and selection, creating auditing challenges beyond traditional transactional ad fraud.