Global Scans · Social media · Weekly Summary

• [New] A legislation to ban social media for children under 15 would go into effect in 2027. / Canada WIRED Middle East
• [New] The UK Government has announced plans to ban under-16s from using certain social media platforms from Spring 2027, marking a major escalation in the regulation of online safety. REG Technologies
• [New] The UK's proposed restrictions on VPNs and social media for under-16s could have global implications, following similar moves in Utah and raising concerns about privacy and online access. Yahoo News
• [New] The companies that will win at social media in 2026 and beyond are not the ones that use the most AI. Picmim Blog
• In spring 2027 it will bring in a social media ban for under-16s, which will include platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. / UK The Guardian
• Social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and X are seen as major contributors to disinformation, highlighting the risks companies face in digital ecosystems. Metro Atlanta CEO
• A federal appellate court recently rejected First Amendment and vagueness challenges to an Ohio parental-consent statute that limits minors' access to social media platforms reasonably anticipated to be accessed by children. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• Reuters reported that the social media behemoth Meta Platforms Inc. META plans to start manufacturing a customized AI chip from September, which will boost its overall computing power to 14 gigawatts in 2027. Yahoo! Finance
• By the end of 2021, there were more than 4.26 billion social media users worldwide, a number that is expected to increase to nearly six billion by 2027. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The EU will adopt a start date for children's use of social media as part of a new graduated approach to social media restriction, with parental oversight remaining central. Passle
• Daily media consumption will hit a record 13 hours and 26 minutes per day in 2026, fueled by genAI, resilient social media engagement, stronger-than-expected streaming growth, and a slower decline in traditional TV. eMarketer
• Average ad spending per internet user in the social media segment nearly tripled from $15.82 in 2017 to a modeled $42.77 in 2024, and is forecast to hit $60.90 by 2030. TechnologyChecker.io
• By 2026, Influencer Marketing will no longer be a simple matter of renting space on a celebrity's social media page. Webie Vietnam
• Under the proposed changes - the first for an Australian state - social media companies could be forced to identify anonymous accounts accused of online vilification. The Guardian
• The UK government is preparing to launch a social media ban for under-16s early 2027, which will increase scrutiny of the methods tech companies use for verifying users' ages. The Guardian
• Older teenagers in the UK will face an overnight social media curfew. BBC News
• Social media in 2026 will be more fragmented. Sportsbridge Asia
• A practical guide to using ChatGPT for marketing in 2026 across SEO, email, paid ads, and social media workflows, with real strengths and risks. Coursiv
• The FDA announcement comes as the WHO warns that nicotine pouches are spreading so rapidly that regulation is struggling to keep pace in many countries, and that brands are increasingly using social media, influencers, and youth-oriented marketing to promote them. Wired

Last updated: 10 August 2026