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Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 January 2026. It was answered by Kanishka Narayan (Labour) on Thursday, 5 February 2026 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Social Media: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what research her Department has commissioned on the potential impact of apps accessible to children which utilise microtransactions on children's financial behaviour.

Answer

The Government is committed to ensuring apps, including games with in-app purchases are enjoyed safely and responsibly and guidance on-in game transactions is followed.

Industry-led guidance, to improve protections for players in relation to loot boxes, was published in 2023. A 12-month implementation period ended in July 2024 and DCMS commissioned independent research to assess its effectiveness which will be published in due course.

In November 2025, Ofcom, the regulator of the Online Safety Act, launched a Call for Evidence to explore whether children’s safety online would be better protected by the greater use of age assurance or other measures at app store level. It also looks at what role app stores play in children encountering content that is harmful to them by means of regulated apps which the app stores make available.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
106012
Session
2024-26
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Children Software Social media
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk