Including online games in social media bans is unworkable, unnecessary and would harm young people

"Meta and YouTube were found liable for creating intentionally addictive products that affected the wellbeing of young social media users, prompting a movement to restrict social media use for under-16s."

"Roblox, with 381 million monthly users, has faced scrutiny due to cases of grooming and child exploitation, raising concerns about the safety of online environments for children."

"Roblox has made efforts to improve child safety features, such as restricting voice chat to verified accounts for users aged 13 and over, but questions remain about the overall safety of such platforms."

"Including video games in proposed social media bans presents regulatory challenges, as not all video games have significant online components, complicating the enforcement of restrictions."

Meta and YouTube have been held liable for developing intentionally addictive products that harm young social media users. This ruling has intensified efforts by governments to impose restrictions on social media for users under 16, similar to actions taken in Australia. Additionally, there is a growing concern about online gaming, where a significant number of children engage. The potential for curbs on gaming, like those implemented in China, raises questions about safety and regulatory challenges, especially with platforms like Roblox facing issues of child exploitation and inappropriate content.

Read at www.theguardian.com