Major new ChatGPT rules announced for young people in the UK

Users could face new restrictions when using AI chatbots

The measure is part of a wider government response to concerns about children's use of technology.

Under the proposal, anyone under 18 using an AI chatbot would be required to take regular breaks, although ministers have yet to explain exactly when these interruptions would happen or how long they would last.

The plans follow recommendations from the Commons Education Committee, which called for a broader set of protections across platforms used by children. 

Its report included calls for social media restrictions and limits on features designed to encourage prolonged use, such as infinite scrolling and personalised algorithms.

AI-generated mental health advice is also being examined.

The government will work with the Department of Health and Social Care and the MHRA on possible measures targeting chatbots that could give children harmful, inaccurate or unverified advice.

Sexual content will face separate restrictions. Under-18s will be blocked from chatbots built primarily around sexual relationships, while access to explicit features on general-purpose services such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude will require proof of being over 18.

The government says further action may be needed, but has not yet set out how the breaks or age checks will work.

Britain’s online crackdown is going far beyond AI chatbots

The UK government's plans for AI chatbots are only one part of a wider crackdown on features that could expose younger users to harm online.

Some of the measures announced over the summer will affect social media, gaming and other digital services. 

The government intends to stop platforms from offering their services to anyone under 16, with the first set of regulations due to be brought before Parliament by the end of 2026.

Younger teenagers will also face tighter controls on how they communicate with strangers and access livestreams. 

These features are expected to be disabled by default for 16- and 17-year-olds, including on a wider range of gaming services.

Autoplay and personalised feeds will also have to be limited by default for the same age group.

There will also be restrictions on how much social media can interrupt or encourage use overnight. 

For 16- and 17-year-olds, platforms will be expected to restrict access between midnight and 6am by default and silence push notifications during those hours.

For the proposed under-16 social media ban, the government said it is looking towards Australia's approach.

The rules are expected to focus on platforms where users can post content to each other and algorithms play a role in what people see.