- UK government plans to ban under-16s from social media and restrict AI romantic chatbots to ages 18+.
- Research shows young people prioritize risks like over-reliance on AI for emotional support, unwarranted trust in AI responses, and cognitive de-skilling, not romantic attachment.
- Age thresholds in policies lack clear evidence and may treat young people as objects of protection rather than competent agents.
- Regulation should focus on AI literacy, design features that support adolescent agency, and youth co-production in AI development, rather than just access restrictions.