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Age bans look decisive but risk weakening better regulation

Published

29 September 2026

Topic

regulatory

◆ Sectors

Other

◆ Geography

United Kingdom

◆ Source

Read at bmjgroup.com →

◆ Verified

Fusion42 · 30 September 2026 · Fusion42 review

Emerging evidence from Australia shows that age bans on social media use under 16 might not effectively address the core issues of platform design linked to adolescent mental health. The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 shifts focus by imposing a duty of care on platforms and empowering regulators to address harmful design features.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Other.

◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway

You need to rethink compliance focus from simple age bans to platform design issues. Regulators in the UK now back this shift, creating openings for safer social media innovations.

◆ Coverage

1 source · 29 Sep 2026

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◆ Topics

Othersocial-mediayouth-mental-healthonline-safety-actplatform-designregulation