2026-01-16 15:32:24

UK government officials are currently preparing a range of policy options aimed at potentially restricting or banning social media access for children. According to recent reports, ministers are exploring various legislative approaches to address growing concerns about the impact of social platforms on young people's mental health and online safety.

This move reflects broader regulatory trends across developed nations to tighten control over tech platforms' interaction with minors. The development carries implications beyond traditional social media—as governments worldwide strengthen their oversight frameworks, similar restrictions could eventually affect blockchain-based social applications and Web3 platforms where age verification becomes a critical compliance challenge.

The proposals underscore the escalating tension between tech innovation and child protection priorities. Whether traditional or decentralized platforms, the regulatory momentum suggests that stricter age-gating mechanisms and parental oversight features may become standard requirements in the coming years.

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HorizonHunter

· 01-19 15:32

The UK is up to something again, banning kids from using social media? Why haven't they thought of blockchain yet? By the end of the year, web3 platforms need to be ready for identity verification; compliance is unavoidable. Traditional social media is under close watch, and decentralized platforms will eventually be pulled into the regulation... It's too real. The regulatory boot is about to drop, and we need to adapt to these rules in advance. Kids won't be able to surf freely anymore; privacy and freedom will have to give way to "protection." It seems that centralized platforms will still thrive the most in the end, while decentralization becomes more troublesome. The real issue isn't whether it's banned or not, but who defines what is "harmful to children"... Government authority isn't necessarily correct.

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PuzzledScholar

· 01-18 02:26

Uh, banning kids from accessing the internet again... Now even Web3 might be affected --- No, why do I always feel that these policies are just superficial solutions and not addressing the root cause? --- It's really happening, the nightmare of age verification begins --- Kids' mental health definitely needs attention, but total bans are too harsh, right? --- Haha, back to messing with decentralized platforms, regulators really have long arms --- If this really gets implemented, how many projects will need to overhaul their compliance frameworks... --- Pity those Web3 product managers, they have to work overtime again --- Why does it feel like the whole world is teaming up against technological freedom? --- Parent-child supervision > bans, why didn't I think of this? --- Blockchain gets caught in the crossfire, even though it's clearly not meant for kids

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SilentObserver

· 01-16 16:50

Is it another ban on kids accessing the internet? Web3 really isn't easy to survive in. --- Really? Even blockchain has to take the blame... --- Age verification is easy to talk about but extremely difficult to implement. --- The UK is doing something again; it won't be long before we have to follow suit here. --- Kids should be regulated, but don't end up stifling innovation. --- Compliance costs are going up again... Wallets are going to cry. --- There are tons of regulations, but what about privacy rights? Why is no one paying attention? --- Decentralization can't escape the government's grasp either. --- After this round of operations, small platforms are directly out.

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OnchainHolmes

· 01-16 16:02

Is it another ban on children playing social media? Can Web3 still survive? Now even on-chain, parents have to review and censor—what a compliance nightmare. UK government really knows how to stir up trouble. No one can escape this wave of regulation. KYL, does the age verification mechanism need to be added to wallets? That's ridiculous. Basically, it's about fear of innovation. Protecting children is just a pretext. If this really gets implemented, decentralization will have to compromise—how ironic. Children are banned from using social media, but what about the on-chain ecosystem? Regulators are coming to cause trouble again. Web3's spring has yet to arrive.

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WalletInspector

· 01-16 16:01

Here we go again, regulators are coming to choke the neck. This time they’re targeting children playing on social media. What about on-chain stuff? Do we also have to get cut along with this wave? Is it really possible to implement identity verification? It's so funny, kids should just focus on studying; they don’t really need that Web3 set. Once regulation starts, it can’t be stopped. Web3 will eventually have to go ashore. The underlying implication is that they want to develop centralized systems. I just want to see how DeFi handles this. The government just wants control, claiming it’s to protect children. Now, decentralized systems can’t escape a good beating either. Speechless, what era are we in that people still play these games? Centralized platforms haven’t solved any problems. If on-chain social media gets shut down, these people are really ruthless.

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UnluckyLemur

· 01-16 16:01

Banning kids from accessing the internet again? Now Web3 is also caught in the crossfire. Wait, how do you do age verification on-chain? What about privacy? The UK government really knows how to stir things up, regulating so broadly. Regulation is coming; will there be built-in parental controls in the future? That's a bit scary. If kids are banned, adults won't be able to escape either... this approach has no end in sight.

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BearMarketNoodler

· 01-16 16:01

Back at it again? Banning social media to protect children, is the next step to ban the internet? Web3 got caught in the crossfire, but honestly, KYC should have been implemented from the start. Compliance costs are not a big deal. --- History hasn't taught them anything. Every time, they have to hype up "protecting children" to pass legislation. --- Hold on, UK government. Your KYC for traditional social media is even stricter than for blockchain. Don’t end up making decentralized platforms thrive even more. --- Implementing age verification really just fuels the gray market. These regulators just can't seem to understand that. --- Basically, the government just wants to control data flow under the guise of protecting children. Web3 got caught in the crossfire this time, but sooner or later, it will have to comply. It’s unavoidable.

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ShortingEnthusiast

· 01-16 15:58

又来禁用户啊，这次瞄准小孩 web3这块麻烦大了，年龄验证咋搞... 监管越来越紧，创新空间被压死英国这一套下来，欧美都得跟风吧小孩上网确实得管，但全禁也太粗暴了去中心化平台碰上身份验证，确实是个硬伤

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HodlOrRegret

· 01-16 15:53

ngl now Web3 is also being dragged into this, the age verification part is really a big pitfall.

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MysteriousZhang

· 01-16 15:47

Here it comes again, the government wants to regulate kids' internet use, web3 can't escape it Really, how to implement age verification on the chain... how to ensure privacy Regulating traditional social media is one thing, but even web3 needs regulation? Are they trying to kill innovation in its cradle? Contradictions aside, children's mental health is indeed something that should be taken seriously... but can banning be the solution? Betting on a child’s treasure, in the end, the big platforms benefit the most, while small projects are killed off by compliance Speaking of parents who truly care, they've already started managing it... do we really need legislation? Age verification on-chain... this is a problem, who will verify, how to verify, that’s the key Europe is leading the way in regulation again, will East Asia and North America be far behind... everyone has to follow suit

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