Written questions

Social Media: Young People

Commons · Question 113481 · Tabled 20 Feb 2026 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Official record

Answered 25 Feb 2026

Question

Asked by Sharon Hodgson

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the whether social media age restrictions on platforms headquartered overseas would be enforceable.

Answer

Answered by Kanishka Narayan, 25 Feb 2026

The Online Safety Act has extraterritorial effect, meaning any regulated service with a significant number of UK users is required to meet duties wherever they are based.Where an organisation breaches its duties, Ofcom can require it to take steps to retu...