The United Kingdom government is reportedly considering a new law that would bar children under 16 from interacting with strangers in games like Fortnite and Minecraft. The proposal follows similar moves by several other countries introducing new restrictions on platforms aimed at protecting minors on apps, such as Roblox and Discord.
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New UK Law Would Prevent Minors from Interacting with Strangers in Games
The United Kingdom is reportedly considering instituting a new restriction for minors using online gaming services. The law being considered generally aims to regulate social media channels, targeting features like infinite scrolling and autoplay when marketed towards underage children. The bill also aims to curb minors’ ability to interact freely with strangers on gaming platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, which currently have few or no widespread age-based restrictions. UK Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza stated that video games were a particular focus of the bill, given that many younger boys spend more time gaming than on social media. The UK government has not shared any specific details about what restrictions the proposal will include.