AI chatbots face mandatory breaks for UK users under 18
( July 15, 2026, 12:28 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: AI chatbots will have to introduce mandatory breaks for users under 18 in the UK, the government has said in its latest response to a wide-ranging consultation about child safety online. The response also confirmed that social media platforms offering personalized feeds and autoplay features will face further restrictions, as these functionalities will need to be switched off by default throughout the day for any user aged 16 or 17. But ministers have decided not to ban VPNs — nor to age-gate them — saying evidence shows that VPNs aren't widely used by children to bypass protections. These announcements build on a government response in June, when a broader social media ban for users under 16 was announced.Government response attached....
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