In today’s Digest we discuss the UK launching a consultation on a  social media ban for under-16s, a Google patent hinting at AI-generated landing pages, and Roblox surpassing TikTok in Gen Z shopping growth.

UK to trial social media ban on under-16s

The UK government has launched a three-month consultation exploring stricter social media rules for children, including a potential ban on under-16s, daily usage limits, and overnight digital curfews. The move, part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan to address the impact of smartphones on young people, comes months after new child protection requirements under the Online Safety Act. 

As part of the consultation, pilots involving around 150 children aged 13 to 15 will test restrictions such as full social media bans, one-hour daily limits, and overnight curfews, monitoring effects on sleep, mood, and physical activity. Ministers are seeking input from teenagers, parents, and guardians on whether to introduce a statutory minimum age and other measures to support healthier digital habits.

The government is also considering limiting addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, tightening age verification, and reviewing access to AI chatbots and gaming platforms including Roblox. 

Google patent hints at AI-generated landing pages

Google has secured approval for a patent that signals a potential shift in how its Search product could function, with AI-generated landing pages created directly within search results. Filed approximately a year ago and granted last month, the patent titled “AI-generated content page tailored to a specific user” sets out a framework for building bespoke pages in response to individual queries, rather than funnelling users to conventional homepages or category listings.

According to the abstract, the system would use a machine-learned model to assess a search query and evaluate the quality of an organisation’s existing landing page via a “landing page score”. If that score exceeded a certain threshold, Google could present an updated search results page containing a navigation link to a newly generated AI page tailored to the user’s intent.

Roblox surpasses TikTok in Gen Z shopping growth

Roblox has surged past TikTok to become the fastest-growing shopping channel among Gen Z, new data from the Retail Technology Show reveals. In a survey of 1,000 shoppers, respondents born between 1997 and 2012 reported making an average of 20 purchases on Roblox over the past year, a 54% year-on-year increase. By comparison, growth on TikTok stood at 10%. Gen Z shoppers placed 2.4 times more orders on Roblox than any other age group, helping to drive a 31% rise in overall purchasing activity across the platform.

Despite Roblox’s rapid gains, TikTok retains the lead on total transaction volume. Gen Z users completed an average of 23 purchases on TikTok in the past 12 months, more than double the cross-generational average of 11.