Global Scans · Media & Entertainment · Weekly Summary

• [New] 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
• [New] The French national assembly had passed legislation to prohibit access to social media accounts for children under 15 - with provisions for parental consent - and the UK government had announced plans for an Australia-plus ban for under-16s from 2027, with additional restrictions. The Guardian
• [New] Older teenagers in the UK will face an overnight social media curfew. BBC News
• [New] Media and entertainment is projected to expand at a 38.19% CAGR through 2031, which makes it the fastest-growing end-user segment. Mordor Intelligence
• [New] How any future age verification legislation in the UK around social media and particularly messaging in gaming could therefore affect it, if at all, is still unknown. BBC News
• [New] Intelligent systems are expected to outperform social media in customer communication over the past decade. SpringerLink
• [New] 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
• [New] Media and entertainment is projected to grow at a 33.56% CAGR through 2031, which reflects the increasing value of subscriber-level behaviour data in streaming and digital advertising. Mordor Intelligence
• [New] The proliferation of well-funded, content-rich streaming services from major media companies (e.g., Disney +, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV +) poses a clear emerging threat. Trefis
• [New] AI use is growing in regulated industries and that Ofcom will focus on ensuring it's safe and secure, including in media and communications. Transparency Market Research
• [New] The UK's proposed social media ban, due to come into force in 2027, would block under-16s from accessing Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X and Facebook and from livestreaming or communicating with strangers on gaming sites such as Roblox. The Guardian
• [New] Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Free Malaysia Today
• [New] Linear TV's share of global media spend has fallen from 41.3% in 2013 to 12.4% in 2026, and eMarketer projects linear TV ad spend will decline another 11% in 2026 across national and local. Digital Applied
• [New] Social media platforms that fail to comply risk heavy fines of $50 million. Psychiatric Times
• [New] President Trump threatened in a social media post to supersede existing trade deals by imposing 100% tariffs on European nations if they pursue digital services taxes on U.S. tech companies. National Law Review
• KPMG The adoption of immersive technologies in entertainment and tourism could generate an additional 5 billion pounds in revenue by 2030 as users seek novel forms of engagement. Shaping Tomorrow
• The entertainment industry is navigating rapid disruption, consolidation, regulatory shifts, the rise of AI, and intensifying competition from global players. Business of Entertainment Summit
• Social media surpassed 5.4 billion users in 2025, more than double the 2017 figure, and is projected to reach 6.6 billion by 2030. TechnologyChecker.io

Last updated: 20 July 2026