Governments across Australia, the UK, Spain, France, Greece, and Canada have implemented teen social media bans following Australia's enforcement in December, while AI chatbots emerge as an unregulated concern affecting roughly half of U.S. teens. The legislative wave followed findings that Meta and Google were negligent for failing to warn users about platform dangers including addictive features and body dysmorphia. Experts warn that AI chatbot regulation is repeating the delayed response that characterized social media oversight, with most current legislation failing to address chatbot-related harms beyond extreme cases like romantic companion bots restricted for under-18s in UK proposals.
Multiple Countries Enact Teen Social Media Restrictions
Australia became the first country to legally enforce a teen social media ban in December, leading several governments to follow suit in subsequent months. The UK, Spain, France, Greece, and Canada implemented similar restrictions, while state-level bans gained traction in the U.S.
Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, and Google's YouTube were found negligent earlier this year for failing to adequately warn users about platform dangers. The harms identified ranged from addictive infinite scrolling features to body dysmorphia.
Pew Research Center data shows roughly half of U.S. teens now use chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Character.AI for schoolwork, information, or entertainment. Additional research indicates teens are using chatbots as substitutes for real-life friendships and relationships, with patterns related to addiction emerging.
UK and US Introduce Limited AI Chatbot Provisions
The UK's teen social media ban briefly mentioned restricting under-18s from AI romantic companion chatbots designed to foster sexual relationships or roleplay with users. The U.S. House passed the KIDS Act to restrict AI chatbot interactions with children, though it awaits Senate approval.
University College London Associate Professor of Digital Humanities Kaitlyn Regehr stated that much of the legislation, particularly in the UK, remains limited and only addresses extreme harms while ignoring how chatbots can foster emotional and social dependency as well as cognitive de-skilling.
London School of Economics Professor Sonia Livingstone, specializing in children's digital rights and online safety, said investment in AI is being prioritized and regulation is seen as stifling innovation rather than providing a pathway to trustworthy products. Days before unveiling a social media ban for under-16s, the UK government championed billions in AI investment and positioned Britain as an AI superpower at London Tech Week.
Tech Companies Announce Investment and Policy Changes
SpaceX joined the Nasdaq 100 index on Tuesday, less than a month after its stock market debut on June 12. Micron announced billions more in chipmaking investments aimed at boosting the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and accelerating spending through 2035.
Samsung-backed chipmaker Rebellions is targeting an initial public offering in South Korea in the first or second quarter of next year, the CEO told CNBC exclusively on Wednesday. China's Alibaba banned employees from using Anthropic's AI tools for work starting July 10, citing concerns about backdoor security risks.
SK Hynix, a trillion-dollar chipmaker and the second-most-valuable company in South Korea behind Samsung, is slated to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Friday.
FAQ
What countries have implemented teen social media bans?
Australia became the first country to legally enforce a teen social media ban in December, followed by the UK, Spain, France, Greece, and Canada in subsequent months. State-level bans are also gaining traction in the U.S.
What AI chatbot regulations have been introduced for teenagers?
The UK's teen social media ban briefly mentioned restricting under-18s from AI romantic companion chatbots designed to foster sexual relationships or roleplay. The U.S. House passed the KIDS Act to restrict AI chatbot interactions with children, though it still awaits Senate approval.
Which tech companies were found negligent for platform harms?
Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, and Google's YouTube were found negligent earlier this year for failing to adequately warn users about platform dangers, with harms ranging from addictive infinite scrolling features to body dysmorphia.
