I thought you might be interested in this report in today's Times:

"British children will no longer be able to “like” posts on Facebook and Instagram under plans for strict rules that will force social media giants to protect children online.

A code of conduct drawn up by the data watchdog is set to impose conditions on how technology companies treat under-18s, with the threat of fines totalling billions of pounds.

The measures, to be introduced by the Information Commissioner’s Office, come after strong criticism of tech giants by MPs and public figures. The Duke of Sussex warned this month that social media was “more addictive than drugs and alcohol”.

The 16 planned requirements include a ban on “nudge” tactics that encourage children to spend more time on apps, allowing companies to collect more data. The code gives the examples of “likes” on social media posts and “streaks”, a feature in Snapchat that rewards pairs of users who message each other every day.

Settings must also be “high privacy” by default unless there is a compelling reason. Only the minimum amount of personal data should be collected and held. Children’s data should not usually be shared, and not for commercial reuse, and technology that tracks children’s movements should be switched off by default in most circumstances.

The measures could lead to sites providing different versions for adults and children, or choosing to ban under-18s. The watchdog is demanding that social media companies use “robust” age verification measures to ensure that children are protected. If companies cannot show they know which users are adults, then users of all ages must be protected as if they were children.

The rules, which are intended to significantly limit the gathering of children’s data by social media companies, have been praised by campaigners as a “systemic change”. The code covers British and overseas companies that operate and have offices here. Experts said that it was possible some US tech giants would no longer serve Britain. Some American media companies stopped serving Europe after the introduction of the general data protection regulation (GDPR) last year.

The office’s draft rules are the first of their kind in the world and are expected to come into effect this year. The watchdog said that serious breaches of the code would lead to fines of up to 4 per cent of a company’s turnover under GDPR laws. This is equivalent to $2.2 billion in the case of Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram.

Most social networks have a theoretical minimum age of 13 but do not check users’ ages, leading to criticism that they gather children’s data on an industrial scale and expose under-18s to unsuitable content. Ofcom research indicates that half of children aged 11 and 12 have a social media profile. Experts have also raised concerns that some features such as “likes” were designed to keep users coming back.

Alan Woodward, of the University of Surrey, said that the measures could lead to some companies withdrawing from the UK. “If your whole business model assumes that you can exploit personal data then you may choose to leave the UK rather than risk these fines,” he said.

Elizabeth Denham, the Information Commissioner, said: “This is the connected generation. The internet and all its wonders are hardwired into their lives. We shouldn’t have to prevent our children from being able to use it, but we must demand that they are protected when they do. This code does that.” Andy Burrows, the NSPCC’s associate head of child safety online, said: “This is a really significant package of measures, but it must go hand in hand with the government following through to enshrine in law a duty of care on social networks and an independent regulator with powers to investigate and fine.”

The code is out for consultation until May 31."