All articles tagged with #age restrictions
Keir Starmer pressed Meta, TikTok, Google, Snap and X at Downing Street to curb child harm, signaling possible Australia-style under-16 bans and other age-based restrictions as the government consults on features and controls under the Online Safety Act, with Ofcom oversight and growing cross-party pressure for action.
Governments worldwide are increasingly enacting or considering minimum-age rules for social media, mostly targeting 15–16-year-olds and often requiring age verification or parental consent; Australia led with a nationwide under-16 ban in 2025, while several European countries (e.g., France, Portugal) and U.S. states are moving toward similar thresholds or feature restrictions to address online safety and teen mental health, though approaches and enforcement vary.
India’s IT minister said the government is in talks with social media platforms on implementing age-based restrictions and related regulation, including concerns around deepfakes; no platforms were named, and the move mirrors global debates after Australia banned under-16s, potentially impacting Meta, Google and other platforms with large Indian audiences.
The Texas legislature avoided a total ban on hemp-derived THC products during a special session, allowing these products to remain legal for now, despite ongoing debates and efforts to impose stricter regulations or bans, including age restrictions. The industry and retailers celebrated this outcome, though some sales, particularly of THC vapes, are expected to decline, and the legislative uncertainty continues to impact industry growth and regulation efforts.
Roblox is implementing new safety measures for users under 13, requiring game creators to label their games' suitability for this age group by December 3, and restricting access to social hangouts and free-form 2D user creation from November 18. These changes aim to protect younger users from harmful content, following criticism and regulatory pressure. Despite the swift announcement, enforcement of these requirements will not begin until 2025.
The governor of New Mexico has introduced bills to ban assault weapons and raise the age to possess a gun, as part of efforts to tighten gun control laws in the state.
Fortnite will disable its age restrictions on cosmetics starting with the v28.00 update on December 3, 2023, following backlash from fans. The move comes as the developers work on a long-term solution for cosmetic gating. While most cosmetics will no longer be restricted, a small number of existing cosmetics, including less than ten Outfits, will remain playable only on T-rated islands due to their violent or fear-inducing elements. The announcement has been well-received by the Fortnite community, which had criticized the age restrictions. Epic Games will continue to explore the possibility of future cosmetic restrictions.
Fortnite has acknowledged the backlash over its new age-restrictions on cosmetic items and has promised "a few new options" for players. While a full reversion is unlikely, Epic may introduce modifiers for "underage" maps to remove offending elements. However, some cosmetics, particularly the "scary" ones, may not be fixable. The article also reveals that an in-game event is coming, which would have disallowed the use of age-restricted cosmetics. The restrictions have been criticized as absurd and out of place in a Teen-rated game. Epic's response comes shortly after the successful retro season opening, which saw record player numbers.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, plans to lower the minimum age for its virtual reality headsets from 13 to 10 years old, despite pressure from lawmakers not to market its VR services to younger users. Preteens will be required to get a parent’s approval to set up an account and download apps onto the device, and parents will be able to set time limits and enforce breaks for their preteens on the headsets. Meta said it will not serve ads to users in this age group, and that parents can choose whether their child’s data can be used to improve the company’s services.
Meta plans to lower the recommended age for using its Quest VR headset to 10 from 13, a move that could raise privacy and safety concerns for parents and watchdogs. The company is discussing its plans with regulators and will require parental approval to set up an account for preteens. Meta has slowly moved the age restrictions for its virtual reality apps lower to reach younger audiences. The company said it was making the age change to the Quest headset “to give families even more ways to use and enjoy Meta Quest” and is committed to building safe, positive experiences for young people.
Megaplex, a furry convention in Florida, has limited its attendance to those 18 and older due to a new law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis that forbids children from attending "adult live entertainment" events. The subculture of furries has been linked to a sexual kink for people-like animal characters by mainstream media, but for most furries, their attraction to the community was not sexual. Megaplex said the decision to restrict the ages of attendees was not an easy choice, and they hope to welcome back younger furries next year. Some members of the furry community feel the law is an attack on LGBTQ rights.
A federal judge in Virginia has struck down federal laws blocking handgun sales to buyers over 18 and under 21, ruling that statutes and regulations put in place over the past few decades to enforce age requirements on sales of handguns were "not consistent with our nation's history and tradition" and therefore could not stand. The decision, which would not affect state age limits, will take effect when the judge issues his final order, which is expected in the next few weeks. The Justice Department is expected to appeal the ruling.
A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that federal laws prohibiting licensed dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds are unconstitutional, citing the Second Amendment's protections for the age group. The ruling comes after the Supreme Court's Second Amendment ruling last year, which has escalated legal battles over age-based firearm regulations. The Justice Department has the option to appeal the ruling, and there are procedural questions that must be settled before the ruling goes into effect. The decision could lead to a major dispute that the Supreme Court must ultimately resolve.
A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that laws and regulations prohibiting federally licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to 18-to-20-year-olds are unconstitutional and violate the Second Amendment. The decision would increase gun access for a population that research shows is more impulsive and responsible for a disproportionate number of fatal shootings. The Justice Department is expected to appeal and request a stay, which would prevent the ruling from taking effect while higher courts weigh the case.
A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the US government's prohibition on 18-to-20-year-olds buying handguns violates the Second Amendment and "cannot stand." The right to purchase a handgun falls under the right to "keep and bear arms," and young adults are among "the people" protected by the Second Amendment, Judge Robert E. Payne said. The government did not present any evidence supporting "age-based restrictions on the purchase or sale of firearms from the colonial era, Founding, or Early Republic," Payne said.