United Kingdom: Social Media

When a defendant resides outside England and Wales, serving legal proceedings becomes significantly more complex, requiring court permission, diplomatic channels, and compliance with foreign jurisdictions' laws. A recent case involving service in Dubai demonstrates how courts are adapting to modern communication methods, including the novel use of Instagram for legal service when traditional methods prove impractical.

The UK government has announced sweeping new measures to regulate children's social media access, including a midnight-to-6am curfew for 16-17 year olds, mandatory breaks from AI chatbots, and enhanced VPN detection to prevent circumvention. These proposals follow the June 2026 announcement of a total social media ban for under-16s and represent a significant shift toward more interventionist regulation of young people's online activity.

The UK's online safety regime is beginning to reshape how digital services verify users' ages, with Ofcom reporting a significant increase in the deployment of age assurance measures across pornography, social media, dating and gaming platforms.

On 27 May 2026, the Advertising Standards Authority published two gambling advertising rulings on the same day, one of which involved a retired footballer turned pundit Thierry Henry...

The Advertising Standards Authority has issued contrasting rulings on gambling advertisements featuring retired footballers Gary Neville and Thierry Henry, with the key differentiator being their appeal to under-18 audiences based on social...

Last July, the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee published its report on social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms. It criticised the UK's online safety regime...

In a week when addictive design has been on the news agenda, the UK government has announced a trial of social media bans, digital curfews, and time limits on apps in the homes of 300 teenagers...

Paid advertising continues to underpin the commercial model of major search and social media platforms. Yet the scale of fraud and unlawful financial promotions within this ecosystem...

If you have been posting on LinkedIn recently, you have probably felt the shift in reach and engagement. Tactics that seemed effective six months ago are no longer delivering the same results.