UK reviews regulations on addictive features instead of a total social media ban for under-16s… Will it stop “infinite scroll”?

The UK is considering limiting addictive social media features for under-16s, rather than imposing a full ban on access.

Measures under review include infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications, likes/comments, and recommendation algorithms.

Platforms prefer device-level age verification over service-by-service restrictions, while the government is also examining VPN bypass risks.

The shift from blocking access to restricting design could reshape how social platforms and age checks are regulated.