UKIE welcomes video video games being classed individually from social media as UK authorities publicizes ban

UK video video games commerce physique UKIE has welcomed the federal government’s resolution to categorise video video games as being distinct from social media, as a ban on the latter for under-16s is ready to be launched.

In a press release to Video gamesIndustry.biz, the organisation’s CEO, Nick Poole, argued that the sector is already doing sufficient to make sure that measures are in place to cease youngsters from accessing inappropriate content material.

“The video games industry shares the Government’s commitment to keeping young people safe online,” Poole mentioned.

“We welcome the popularity in right this moment’s announcement that video games are distinct from social media. Through initiatives just like the PEGI age ranking system, we have now supplied mother and father and gamers with clear, trusted steering on age-appropriate recreation content material for greater than 20 years. Major platforms have demonstrated important security innovation on this space, together with communication options that are switched off by default for little one accounts.

“We have offered to act as a technical partner to Government to co-create regulatory frameworks appropriate to games and to provide evidence on what is working.”

This morning, the UK authorities introduced its plans for a social media ban for under-16s, which is able to cease them from accessing platforms akin to Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. These restrictions are set to return into impact by spring 2027.

While impressed by the social media ban enacted in Australia in December 2025, the UK authorities says that it has gone additional than a easy blanket ban by implementing “world-leading blocks” on “harmful functions” like “livestreaming and stranger communication”. These will apply to a wide range of on-line providers, explicitly together with ‘gaming websites’.

According to UKIE, this doesn’t suggest video video games. Video gamesIndustry.biz has contacted the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for extra readability on this time period. Those particular restrictions are additionally going to be on by default for these beneath the age of 17, so as to cease what the UK authorities calls a “cliff-edge”.

“Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever,” UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, mentioned.

“I’ve heard first hand from households crying out for change and we are going to do proper by them.

“That’s why we’re going additional than any nation on this planet by banning social media for under-16s and placing wider protections in place to present children their childhood again.

“This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”