The UK government announced plans on June 15, 2026 to restrict social media access for users under 16, a move that mirrors rules Australia put in place in late 2025. Gaming platforms fall within the scope of the proposal, which would limit voice and text chat for minors. The announcement has drawn a response from Roblox, one of the platforms likely to be affected. The company's chief safety officer, Matt Kaufman, pushed back on blanket bans while unveiling a set of new safety features aimed at protecting younger users.
UK Follows Australia's Lead
The proposed UK restrictions would apply broadly across social platforms, with gaming services included alongside traditional social media. Under the plan, minors would face limits on voice and text chat functionality, echoing the approach Australia adopted when it introduced similar under-16 restrictions in late 2025. The UK proposal signals a growing international trend toward tighter regulation of how children interact online, particularly on platforms where real-time communication between users is a core feature.
Roblox Pushes Back on Outright Bans
Speaking to Sky News, Kaufman argued against sweeping prohibitions, saying: "We caution about going overboard with outright bans." He indicated that Roblox would rather work directly with regulators than face blanket restrictions, stating the company is willing to "engage with policymakers" to develop protections that are appropriately scoped. Kaufman also acknowledged that Roblox can be difficult for parents to understand, describing the platform as "complicated" and "difficult" to explain, while stressing that platforms like Roblox play "an incredibly important role in kids' lives."
New Safety Features Announced
Alongside its response to the UK proposal, Roblox detailed a trio of new safety measures. Chat will be disabled for any user who has not completed age verification, and it will be turned off entirely for users under the age of 9. The platform will also restrict access to certain games based on a user's verified age. According to Kaufman, these changes are intended to make protecting children on the platform "easier." The announcement lands against a backdrop of sustained scrutiny over Roblox's handling of child safety. The company has faced investigations in parts of the United States, as well as more than 150 federal lawsuits alleging child-safety failures. Roblox is currently seeking to have those lawsuits moved into private arbitration rather than litigated in court. With UK regulators following Australia's example, Roblox's latest safety announcement positions the company as trying to shape the conversation around child protection rather than simply react to it. Whether age verification, chat restrictions, and game-access limits satisfy lawmakers — or the plaintiffs in its ongoing legal battles — remains to be seen as the UK's proposal moves forward.
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