UK mulls restrictions on child-stranger contact in games

The United Kingdom government is considering new restrictions that could prevent children from interacting with strangers on popular online gaming platforms. Officials are weighing whether to include gaming services like Fortnite, Roblox, Discord, and Minecraft in potential legislation aimed at protecting minors online.

Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan has highlighted “stranger pairing” as a significant concern, referring to the way many online games can connect adult strangers with underage children. He stated that this issue, prevalent in gaming contexts, would weigh significantly in his mind as the government considers how to stop some of the most egregious harms for young people. The proposals follow a public consultation on children’s online safety, which concluded in May 2026 and received over 80,000 responses.

The government is evaluating several options, including following Australia’s model of banning children under 16 from social media accounts or targeting specific platform features. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said a ban was “definitely on the table,” citing that nine in ten parents who responded to the consultation backed Australian-style restrictions....