Topic: age restrictions
-
Roblox to Require Age Verification for Chat in 2026
Roblox will require age verification for chat features in 2026, implementing a tiered system to restrict communication based on user age and enhance safety. The system limits interactions to users of similar age groups, such as preventing those 16 or older from chatting with younger users like 12...
Read More » -
The VPN Panic Is Just Beginning
The UK's Online Safety Act implementation has caused a dramatic surge in VPN usage as residents use them to bypass new mandatory age verification requirements for online content. Government officials and the Children's Commissioner have identified VPNs as a major loophole undermining the child pr...
Read More » -
YouTube Updates Gaming Violence Policy
YouTube is introducing age restrictions for users under 18 and signed-out viewers on mature gaming content, including realistic violence and simulated gambling, effective November 17th. The updated policy now covers digital assets like in-game skins and NFTs in gambling contexts and restricts soc...
Read More » -
Character.AI Bans Minors From AI Chatbots
Character.AI is banning users under 18 from open-ended conversations with AI characters, implementing a two-hour daily limit immediately and a full ban by November 25, enforced by a proprietary age assurance model. The policy change responds to legal challenges and regulatory trends, including la...
Read More » -
YouTube Tightens Rules on Video Game Violence
YouTube is introducing stricter age restrictions on November 17th, blocking users under 18 and those not signed in from viewing videos that focus on realistic human characters involved in mass violence or torture in video games. The platform will assess factors like the duration and prominence of...
Read More » -
Australian Youth Influencers Quit Social Media
Australia will ban social media accounts for users under 16 starting December 10, 2025, a pioneering law aimed at protecting youth mental health. The ban is causing anxiety among young influencers, who rely on platforms for income, community, and creative expression, forcing some to adapt their a...
Read More » -
Australia Bans Twitch for Teens, Spares Pinterest
Australia will ban social media access for individuals under 16 starting December 10, including platforms like Twitch, Facebook, and TikTok, but exempting Pinterest. Twitch will deactivate existing accounts for underage Australian users by January 9, as it is classified as an "age-restricted soci...
Read More » -
Spotify Lets You Block Kids' Music From Your Recommendations
Spotify is introducing managed accounts for children under 13, available to Premium Family subscribers in countries like the US, UK, and Australia, offering a controlled, music-focused environment within the main app. Parents can filter explicit content, block specific songs or artists, and disab...
Read More » -
Google Photos: Transform Images into Video with AI
Google Photos is adding a text prompt feature to its AI video tool, allowing users to directly specify motion, style, or effects for animations. The new feature is currently limited to users 18+ in the app, bringing it more in line with competing AI editing platforms. Videos now include audio by ...
Read More » -
Character.AI Launches Teen Stories After Chat Ban
Character.AI is introducing a "Stories" feature for younger users, replacing open-ended chats with structured, choose-your-own-adventure narratives to guide them toward more conservative AI interactions. This strategic shift is driven by legal challenges, including lawsuits alleging the platform'...
Read More » -
TikTok Adds Voice Notes and Image Sharing to DMs
TikTok is introducing voice notes and expanded media sharing to enhance user interaction and transform the platform into a more versatile communication hub. Users can send voice messages up to 60 seconds and share up to nine images or videos per message, with safety measures like restrictions on ...
Read More » -
OpenAI Adds Parental Controls for Teen ChatGPT Users
OpenAI has launched parental controls for ChatGPT, enabling parents to receive alerts if teens discuss self-harm or suicide, and law enforcement may be notified in urgent cases. Enhanced content protections are automatically applied to teen accounts, restricting exposure to graphic material, harm...
Read More » -
TikTok Launches 'Shared Feeds' for Collaborative Content
TikTok has globally launched **Shared Collections**, allowing users over 16 to collaboratively save and organize videos into folders with mutual followers, enhancing group content discovery. The platform previewed **Shared Feeds**, a future feature that will create a daily, curated feed of 15 vid...
Read More » -
Meta Blocks Teens From Messaging Its AI Characters
Meta is temporarily blocking teenagers from interacting with its AI characters to develop a new, improved version with integrated parental controls for both adults and younger users. The decision was driven by parental feedback requesting more oversight, leading the company to prioritize building...
Read More » -
Meta Accused of Suppressing VR Safety Research for Kids
Whistleblowers allege Meta is suppressing research on potential harms of VR to children, with legal interference to block unfavorable findings. Meta denies the claims, stating it has approved numerous studies on youth safety and improved parental controls for its VR products. These allegations wi...
Read More » -
Meta's New Chatbots Message You First to Boost Engagement
Meta is testing AI chatbots on Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram that proactively message users based on past interactions, aiming to boost engagement but raising privacy and safety concerns. The chatbots will only initiate follow-ups after five user interactions within 14 days, with options to ...
Read More » -
ChatGPT to Introduce Ads with Shopping Links
OpenAI will introduce clearly labeled advertisements and sponsored shopping links to the free and lower-cost ChatGPT Go tiers in the U.S., marking a significant monetization step. The ads will appear in a separate chat section, will not influence AI responses, and user conversations will remain p...
Read More »