Month: October 2025

In online spaces overflowing with formulaic copywriting, posting for the sake of posting, and polished strategy – the perfect Instagram feeds – audiences have grown weary of perfection.
In this Business Matters interview with Marco Robinson, award-winning entrepreneur, coach, property investor, and the man behind Channel 4’s Get a House for Free, we explore how many UK companies could benefit from showing their real side in marketing. By sharing the stories of their people — and how they overcame challenges to become the businesses they are today — companies can more effectively capture audiences and gain truly invested customers.
All businesses could benefit from leaning more into showing the real life of its founders and business story.
The New Norm of Gaining Custom
The fact is according to Marco and many of his peers… “Personal Brand” is your greatest asset and business strategy.
The serious growth of AI has made traditional life and work redundant. You, the individual is now the company, the business, the face of your life… and the only way to grow is by embracing this technology as your asset by learning how to do it.
People ask… but what business do I go into? You choose a personal brand business or a faceless brand business.
You are front and centre or you own a business asset that you can invest in and get a return……
You don’t have the capital?
Go earn it. Everything is earned, nothing comes for free. Save up . Learn how to start and run a business.
But please, don’t ever think school or Universities will ever give you those skills… because they will not unless you are a doctor , a lawyer or a trade.
If you want to be front and centre you must own your narrative, the good, the bad and the ugly. People don’t want polish, they want truth, and they want courage.
They want to associate with people and brands that help them overcome their problems. Plain and simple, if you can share in your story you can help them overcome the problem they are in now, you will win… if they like you… that’s your personal brand.
And being authentic is all about saying what you are going to do and actually doing it.
Marco Robinson on Being Your Own Hero
Marco Robinson is no stranger to an underdog story.
Marco’s business journey is one of grit, pain, growth, and transformation — one which resonates deeply with his peers and those he coaches when he tells it. Growing up with a devoted mother, a father that was a gambling addict. A father that had so many debts his mum had to leave that marriage…
A mother that was sexually abused from the age of four years old by the patriarch in the 1970’s.
When he made the Channel 4 TV show “Get a house for free” the backstory came out of how her stepfather intervened and would not let them come into the house… the reason for this is because at 12 years old her step father put his hand on her breast and said : “I didn’t marry your mum for your mum, I married your mum to get to you…”
You can imagine how terrified she was… all her life of this predator…
He spent nights sleeping on park benches and enduring the harsh realities of homelessness. At school, he was bullied and burdened by the difficult environments of the 1980s, moving schools many times. Marco Robinson once felt he had no hope or future.
But at 16, Marco made a decision that changed everything — he left school and began hustling his way through the business world. Through relentless effort, countless setbacks, and unshakable belief, Marco Robinson built what he calls his own business empire.
Today, Marco Robinson is a highly successful business coach, bestselling author, TV personality, film producer, actor, and UK property developer. His rise from homelessness to business excellence became the heart of his public mission — using his success to give back, even giving away homes to families in need for free on his Channel 4 show Get a House for Free. His charitable work in Malaysia saw him receive the title of Dato’ Seri (Sir Marco Robinson). He also executed charitable work as an Official Advisor with the Homeless Entrepreneur charity (see here). Marco also delivers coaching, inspired by life story, via The Undisputed Success Formula and The Start Over Movement.
Marco’s story stands as a testament that no matter how dark your beginnings, you can rewrite your future through resilience, courage, and purpose.
And this is where Marco Robinson focuses his attention when working with businesses and coaching them on social media marketing — showing the real people behind the success, their colourful personalities, and the challenges they’ve overcome. People engage with people. People buy from people. That’s a philosophy Marco Robinson lives and teaches.
Marco Robinson on Focusing on More Real Marketing
The most powerful marketing no longer comes from faceless taglines but from the genuine human stories behind a brand.
Marco Robinson says, “Real creative marketing that will actually move the needle for many firms is something often out of reach, as they focus too much on direct marketing or hard sales techniques and promotions. They quickly schedule basic, non-engaging social media or email content about their services or industry changes — but hardly ever share their real people on screen, or the heartbeat behind their company.”
Companies that dare to reveal more — their people, founding stories, challenges, flawed beginnings, and human side — create a bond that can’t be bought with marketing dollars. Some of this stuff is natural and free, and can be the most converting content you have. It doesn’t always have to be a wave of inspiration but showcasing the story of a person behind your brand. According to Marco Robinson, this is the future of business storytelling: real people, real emotions, real connections. Don’t miss this wisdom with your marketing, it will leave you in good stature.
Showing a Business with People and Purpose
Every company has its scars: moments of failure, hard decisions, and lessons learned the hard way. Instead of hiding these struggles, forward-thinking brands are realizing that vulnerability is a strength. Sharing stories of staff who’ve faced setbacks, founders who’ve nearly quit, and teams who’ve battled through uncertainty doesn’t weaken a company’s image — it humanizes it.
As Marco Robinson often says, “Your audience doesn’t want to see perfection — they want to see perseverance, they want to see courage, they want to see you evolve in front of their eyes… they want to be in your chapter, that’s why they hire you.”
When a company highlights its people — the employees who overcame personal challenges, or the founder who turned rejection into innovation — it moves from being a brand to being a story that so compelling people are magnetised to your brand… and if you have yet the right offer suite which solves their problems they will never stop buying from you… .
These narratives spark emotional resonance, which drives loyalty far more effectively than discount codes ever could.
A tale of transformation — from adversity to achievement — taps into something universal: the human instinct to root for perseverance. Marco Robinson teaches that authenticity always wins over advertising.
Moreover, authenticity cuts through the clutter of modern media. While competitors shout louder, the honest brand simply speaks truth. Transparency builds trust, and trust builds advocacy. Customers don’t just buy a product; they buy into a purpose. When they see the imperfect journey behind success, they relate to it — and that relatability turns audiences into communities, and communities into champions.
Marco Robinson on Warts & All Approach to Storytelling
Marco Robinson says, “In the end, showing your warts isn’t about oversharing; it’s about being courageously real. The most compelling marketing strategy in today’s noisy world is the one that says, ‘Here’s who we really are — the good, the bad, and the becoming.’ Because when people see that your company’s story is built not on perfection but on persistence, they’ll believe not just in what you sell, but in why you exist.”
He continues, “People don’t just buy products or services anymore — they buy into stories, values, and the people behind the brand. Showing the nitty-gritty of your business — the real, unpolished moments, the behind-the-scenes processes, the challenges, and the personalities that drive your company — humanizes your brand and builds trust. Social media is saturated with polished ads and generic content; what cuts through the clutter is authenticity.”
When Marco Robinson coaches his clients, he often reminds them that when you share genuine stories — like how a product idea was born, the struggles your team faced during a tough week, or the laughter that fills your workspace — you invite your audience to become part of your journey. This emotional connection turns casual followers into loyal fans, which helps print loyalty and is a sign of success.
As Marco Robinson concludes, “Storytelling gives your brand dimension and purpose. It transforms marketing from promotion into relationship-building. It’s the difference between being noticed and being remembered. Focus on this and watch what happens. So, instead of striving for perfection, show the reality — the heart, hustle, and humanity behind what you do. In doing so, you not only attract customers who resonate with your story but also build a community that believes in it, and access true connection and fantastic inspiration between you.”
Find Out More About Marco Robinson Coaching
For information on Marco’s business, any advice, and social media coaching masterclasses, please visit his website at MarcoRobinson.com. Marco Robinson is listed on IMDb as a media producer, actor, media investor, and property investor, and has also published several book series on property investment and financial freedom.
Read more:
Real storytelling as a business strategy: Marco Robinson on crafting your company’s hero story

More than 400 UK businesses have been officially recognised by the government for paying their suppliers promptly and fairly, as part of the Fair Payment Code, a scheme run by the Office of the Small Business Commissioner.
The code, launched in December 2024, is part of a national drive to combat Britain’s late-payment culture, which costs the economy £11 billion each year and leads to the closure of an estimated 14,000 small firms annually — equivalent to 38 businesses every day.
The milestone marks a growing movement among large and mid-sized firms to improve cash flow across supply chains, particularly at a time when small businesses continue to face high borrowing costs and fragile margins.
The Fair Payment Code Awards recognise organisations that demonstrate clear, transparent, and reliable payment practices. Awardees agree to abide by three central principles: to be Clear, Fair and Collaborative with their suppliers.
To qualify, firms must provide detailed evidence of their payment behaviour, verified through a rigorous assessment process. There are three award tiers, based on invoice settlement performance:
• Gold Award – for businesses paying at least 95% of all invoices within 30 days.
• Silver Award – for those paying at least 95% within 60 days, and 95% of invoices to small businesses within 30 days.
• Bronze Award – for firms paying at least 95% of all invoices within 60 days.
Each award is valid for two years, after which companies must reapply and undergo reassessment.
Applications for the next round of awards are open, with businesses encouraged to apply between September and December to secure a full two-year recognition period.
Emma Jones (pictured), the UK Small Business Commissioner, said the milestone demonstrated the growing appetite for responsible business conduct and the wider benefits of good payment culture.
“It is fantastic to celebrate this milestone for the Fair Payment Code with businesses across the UK,” Jones said.
“Awardees are leaders in fair and quick payments, getting money moving through the economy and encouraging growth in supply chains. But this is just the start — I want to see more businesses applying to the Code so we can continue to build a positive payment culture where paying on time is simply seen as the right thing to do.”
Jones added that timely payments were particularly crucial in a challenging economic environment, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often act as the backbone of supply chains but lack the liquidity to absorb delays.
Among the businesses recognised under the code are major financial institutions, including NatWest Group, which holds Gold Award status.
Ken McHugo, Head of Supply Chain at NatWest Group, said the accolade reflected the bank’s responsibility to model good practice for its business clients.
“NatWest Group is the biggest backer of businesses in the UK, with more than 1.5 million customers — from start-ups and SMEs to multinational companies,” McHugo said.
“We know first-hand from our business banking customers how important prompt payment is to cash flow, success and growth. By being a Gold Awardee on the Fair Payment Code, we’ve shown our commitment to supporting suppliers through efficient payment processes.”
The UK’s late-payment issue has long been a source of frustration for smaller firms. According to recent research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), one in four small businesses are paid late by larger clients, while 37% cite late payments as their biggest financial challenge.
The Fair Payment Code, combined with the Prompt Payment and Cash Flow Review, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to create a “fairer, faster payment culture”, ensuring that businesses are rewarded for their work without excessive delays.
As more firms commit to the Code, officials hope to build a benchmark for best practice that encourages accountability across every sector — from construction and retail to finance and technology.
“Getting money flowing quickly through the economy is vital,” Jones said. “When businesses are paid on time, they can invest, hire and grow — and that benefits everyone.”
Read more:
Over 400 UK businesses recognised under government’s Fair Payment Code

Capita has been fined £14 million by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for serious data protection failures following a major cyber-attack in March 2023 that compromised the personal details of 6.6 million people across the UK.
The attack, which saw hackers infiltrate Capita’s systems and extract nearly one terabyte of sensitive data, affected customers, pension scheme members, and staff of one of Britain’s largest outsourcing firms.
In its report, the ICO described the incident as “a systemic failure to apply basic cyber hygiene”, concluding that the breach caused “significant distress and anxiety” for millions of people whose financial, employment, and personal data was exposed.
According to the regulator, Capita detected the breach within 10 minutes of the hackers gaining access but failed to isolate the infected device for 58 hours, a delay that allowed ransomware to spread and data to be exfiltrated.
Sensitive material stolen included financial data, criminal record checks, and “special category data” — information revealing an individual’s race, religion, sexual orientation, and health status.
The ICO investigation found that Capita had known vulnerabilities in its systems, an understaffed security operations centre, and inadequate testing of its defences. Despite handling data for millions of citizens through contracts with local councils, NHS bodies, and private clients, its cybersecurity processes were found to fall “well below expectations for a company of its size and role”.
The total penalty comprises £8 million for Capita plc and £6 million for Capita Pension Solutions, reflecting the wide range of affected stakeholders, including several large pension schemes.
An initial fine of £45 million was reduced after the company demonstrated improvements to its cybersecurity systems and cooperated with regulators, including the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, said: “This incident exposed the personal information of millions of people to potential misuse and caused substantial anxiety and inconvenience. While we recognise Capita’s cooperation and subsequent remediation, the case highlights the consequences of failing to act swiftly and decisively in the face of a known threat.”
Capita’s chief executive, Adolfo Hernandez, said the company had been targeted early in what became a spate of sophisticated cyber-attacks against large UK firms.
“As an organisation delivering essential public and private services, Capita was among the first in the recent wave of highly significant cyber-attacks on UK companies,” Hernandez said. “We have since invested heavily in cyber resilience and security monitoring to protect our systems and our clients’ data.”
Capita provides outsourced services for local authorities, the NHS, and private businesses — making it a key part of the UK’s public service infrastructure. The attack disrupted multiple contracts, including teachers’ pensions administration, prompting government departments to conduct reviews of their exposure to third-party cyber risks.
Andy Ward, SVP International at Absolute Security, said the incident illustrated the danger of delayed responses to cyber intrusions.
“The Capita breach highlights the critical importance of identifying and remediating cyber incidents immediately — every hour of delay multiplies the potential damage,” he said.
“True resilience isn’t just about prevention or compliance; it’s about ensuring organisations can withstand and rapidly recover from attacks while minimising downtime and disruption.”
Ward added that nearly half of UK CISOs (48%) now believe the country’s overall cyber resilience strategy is “insufficient”, calling for greater investment in detection, containment, and recovery capabilities.
The Capita breach remains one of the most significant UK corporate cyber incidents since the 2017 WannaCry attack that crippled NHS systems. The ICO’s findings underscore a broader pattern of cybersecurity weaknesses among large contractors handling sensitive public data.
While the regulator acknowledged Capita’s post-incident reforms, it said the fine should serve as a warning that delays in response and underinvestment in security carry substantial financial and reputational risks.
“Cyber resilience must be embedded across every layer of the business,” Ward said. “Leaders must assume attacks are inevitable — and be ready to respond when they come.”
Read more:
Capita fined £14 Million over 2023 cyber-attack that exposed data of 6.6 Million people

Tottenham’s entrepreneurial scene is thriving. New data reveals that the concentration of small businesses in the North London district has doubled in just four years, coinciding with the transformation of the area into a hub for major international events.
According to the research by GoDaddy’ sSmall Business Research Lab, Tottenham’s “microbusiness density” — the number of small businesses per 100 residents — has surged from 1.4 in 2021 to 2.8 in 2025, marking one of the fastest growth rates in the capital.
The rise mirrors the explosion of global events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which has rapidly evolved from a football venue into a multipurpose arena attracting millions of visitors annually.
The trend, GoDaddy says, demonstrates how large-scale cultural and sporting events can catalyse grassroots business activity by increasing footfall, driving investment, and elevating the profile of a neighbourhood once associated with economic decline.
The turning point came in September 2021, when the stadium hosted the heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk — the first major event held there after Covid-19 restrictions lifted.
Since then, Tottenham has welcomed eight NFL fixtures, starting with the Atlanta Falcons’ 27–20 win over the New York Jets in 2021 and culminating in the Denver Broncos’ 13–11 victory over the same team last weekend.
Between those games, the stadium has also become a global music destination, drawing Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Guns N’ Roses, and Post Malone, among others, to headline sell-out shows.
The stadium’s total annual attendance is now estimated at two million people, according to Tottenham Hotspur’s official figures, while the club’s season ticket waiting list tops 90,000 — reflecting the area’s growing magnetism.
GoDaddy’s Head of Research, Alexandra Rosen, said the data underscores how Tottenham’s transformation is both economic and social.
“Tottenham is changing rapidly — it’s attracting new investment, new residents and new ideas,” she said. “The stadium’s major events have added visibility, while local entrepreneurs have been building from the ground up.
This mix of top-down investment and grassroots activity is creating real momentum — a sign of how regeneration and entrepreneurship can grow together to strengthen local economies.”
Rosen added that the findings reflect a broader “entrepreneurial ripple effect” often seen when major venues attract recurring global events, creating opportunities for local suppliers, hospitality businesses, and digital entrepreneurs.
The GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, which monitors more than 600,000 UK small firms, tracks the economic footprint and growth patterns of microbusinesses — typically firms with fewer than ten employees — and how they respond to local economic stimuli such as regeneration projects and event-driven tourism.
Tottenham’s success forms part of a wider pattern that GoDaddy has tracked across NFL host cities. When the company launched its Entrepreneurial Power Rankings in the United States earlier this year, it found that 29 of the 30 NFL cities boasted a higher-than-average microbusiness density compared with the national mean.
That trend appears to be replicating itself in London, where the regular hosting of NFL fixtures — alongside major concerts and international football — is driving new business formation at pace.
The report points to Tottenham as a case study in “stadium-led regeneration”, where the presence of a world-class venue has not only boosted tourism and employment but also fostered a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Despite Tottenham Hotspur’s mixed fortunes on the pitch, the area’s off-field transformation is striking. New cafés, creative studios, retail pop-ups, and logistics services have emerged to meet demand from rising visitor numbers and a swelling local population.
While challenges remain — particularly around housing affordability and infrastructure — the momentum in Tottenham’s small business economy is undeniable.
As Rosen puts it: “What’s happening in Tottenham isn’t just about football. It’s about how communities evolve when global attention, local investment, and entrepreneurial energy come together in the same place.”
Read more:
Tottenham’s small business boom doubles as major events transform the area

Harrogate and London-based fintech Grateful has raised £1.5 million ($2m) in seed funding from Calculus Capital to accelerate development of its automated tip pooling and tronc platform for frontline workers.
Founded in 2022 by Mason Potter (CEO), Jarrod Potter (Chair), and Damian Guy (CPTO), Grateful aims to solve one of hospitality’s most persistent problems: the complex and opaque distribution of tips in a cashless economy. The startup’s software automates tip pooling, compliance, and payments, giving employers transparency while helping staff receive earnings faster and more fairly.
The founders’ inspiration came from their experience in the United States, where structured tip management proved to boost morale and retention. In the UK, they saw operators “drowning in admin” — using sprawling Excel sheets to manage tronc systems while facing rising National Insurance costs and new legal obligations.
Potter said the service sector’s outdated tipping systems were “failing both workers and employers.”
“Frontline workers are the backbone of the service economy, yet they remain under-served by outdated systems that make tipping opaque, distribution slow, and compliance a headache for employers,” he said. “With the shift to a cashless society and the new Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act, fair and transparent digital tipping has become essential.”
The new legislation, introduced in 2024, mandates that all tips must go directly and transparently to workers, sparking demand for compliant, automated solutions like Grateful.
Grateful’s technology integrates digital tipping, tronc management, and worker money tools in one system, reducing manual work for businesses while giving staff real-time visibility into their gratuities. The platform has grown 400% year-on-year, with over 50,000 users and partnerships with leading hospitality tech providers including Toast, EposNow, Deputy, and PayCaptain.
The £1.5 million investment will fund Grateful’s next growth phase — developing AI-powered financial tools, enhancing compliance functionality, and expanding into new markets.
Alexander Crawford, Co-head of Investments at Calculus Capital, said: “Grateful’s platform brings fairness, transparency and compliance, in a cost-efficient way, to a space that has historically lacked all three. With new legislation driving change, Grateful is perfectly positioned to lead the way in ensuring every hospitality worker gets the tips they deserve.”
Potter added that Calculus’s backing would help scale the business internationally: “Their support gives us the firepower to build a platform that not only solves compliance for businesses but empowers workers all over the world by giving them greater ownership and transparency over their hard-earned tips.”
Grateful’s goal is to become the category leader in frontline worker pay and benefits, helping employers improve retention and morale while streamlining compliance. “Our mission is simple,” Potter said. “To make Grateful synonymous with gratitude for the gig economy — and transform how frontline workers are rewarded in the modern era.”
Read more:
Grateful secures £1.5m to transform tipping for frontline workers

Donald Trump’s two Scottish golf courses have posted another year of financial losses despite a strong rise in turnover, as the former US president’s business empire continues to invest heavily in luxury tourism and golf.
Accounts filed for 2024 show that Trump Turnberry, in Ayrshire, increased its revenue by 15 per cent to £24.2 million, driven by higher visitor numbers, luxury travel groups and stronger performance in its high-end golf offering, where green fees can exceed £1,000 a round.
Operating profit at the historic resort more than doubled to £2.3 million, but a £2.9 million depreciation charge pushed the business into a pre-tax loss of £631,779 — an improvement on the £1.7 million loss recorded the previous year, when depreciation costs were slightly lower at £2.8 million.
At Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, turnover rose by 22 per cent to £4.5 million, narrowing losses to £937,693 compared with £1.4 million in 2023. The improvement was attributed to increased visitor numbers and international attention following tournaments such as the PGA Seniors Championship, hosted at the site in August 2024.
In a statement accompanying the accounts, Eric Trump, the former president’s son and executive vice-president of the Trump Organization, said both properties were now seeing the benefits of sustained investment and renewed interest from overseas tourists.
He said: “The revenue increase was driven by luxury travel groups and leisure visitors to Turnberry, while the golf business outperformed expectations. Ownership remains steadfastly committed to their vision for the properties and confidently foresees a positive fiscal improvement as the investment activities flow through in the medium and longer term.”
The Turnberry resort, which employs more than 440 staff, has undergone significant refurbishment since its purchase by Trump in 2014 from the Dubai-based group Leisurecorp in a deal reportedly worth around $60 million. The course, redesigned by Martin Ebert, last hosted The Open Championship in 2009, when Stewart Cink defeated Tom Watson in a playoff. The R&A has since declined to return the major tournament to the course, citing logistical challenges and, in recent years, political sensitivities surrounding the Trump brand.
Nevertheless, the organisation said earlier this year it was conducting new feasibility work on Turnberry’s future as a championship venue, suggesting it may not be permanently off the rota.
In Aberdeenshire, where the first Trump course opened in 2012 after a lengthy and contentious planning battle over environmental concerns, the Trump Organization remains focused on expansion. Trump himself visited the site in July 2024 to open a second course, designed by renowned architect Martin Hawtree, as part of an effort to turn the coastal estate into a global golf destination.
Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Scotland, said both properties “saw substantial revenue growth across all income streams in 2024 and attained their highest ever annual turnovers.”
“Both businesses have also benefited from major capital investments to further expand and enhance their world-ranked golf courses and leisure facilities,” she added.
Neither business declared a dividend for the year. Trump International employs more than 100 staff, with both properties continuing to be backed by the Trump Organization’s broader investment strategy in European hospitality and golf assets.
Read more:
Donald Trump’s Scottish golf resorts still loss making despite rising revenues

Andy Haldane, the former chief economist at the Bank of England, has been appointed the next president of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), succeeding Baroness Martha Lane-Fox when her three-year term ends in February.
Haldane, one of Britain’s most influential economic thinkers, served on the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) for more than six years. Known for his unconventional and forward-looking analysis, he famously warned of the “tiger” of inflation in the aftermath of the pandemic — a caution that proved prescient when prices later surged and central banks scrambled to tighten policy.
Since leaving the Bank, Haldane has remained a key voice in economic policy. He was appointed to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Economic Advisory Council in 2022, a group formed in the wake of the Liz Truss mini-budget to help rebuild confidence in Britain’s fiscal management. He also leads the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), where he has focused on regional inequality, productivity, and the future of work.
His new role at the BCC places him at the heart of the UK’s business community at a critical moment. Companies are grappling with slowing growth, geopolitical uncertainty, and the prospect of higher taxes ahead of the government’s November budget. Many sectors are also facing labour shortages, fragile consumer demand, and tighter financing conditions, as interest rates remain elevated.
Haldane said his appointment came at a pivotal time for British enterprise: “The Chambers have been celebrating and supporting the brilliance of British business for many decades,” he said. “Yet their role has never been more important than it is today.”
The BCC, which represents tens of thousands of firms through its nationwide network of local chambers, has increasingly positioned itself as a pragmatic voice for business in Westminster.
Haldane’s arrival is expected to strengthen the organisation’s economic credibility and deepen its engagement with policymakers — particularly on productivity, regional growth and industrial strategy.
Read more:
Ex-Bank economist Andy Haldane to lead British Chambers of Commerce

Instagram is introducing a PG-13-style content rating system to give parents greater control over what teenagers see on the platform, Meta has announced.
The change marks one of the company’s most sweeping efforts yet to align social-media content moderation with the kind of age guidance familiar from the cinema. All users under 18 will automatically be placed into a “13+” setting modelled on the US parental guidance film rating. Teens will only be able to opt out with explicit parental consent.
The PG-13 system, created in the United States more than four decades ago, has become shorthand for content considered broadly suitable for teenagers but containing material that may be inappropriate for younger children. Meta said its new approach would mirror that framework online.
“While there are obvious differences between movies and social media, we made these changes so teens’ experience in the 13+ setting feels closer to the Instagram equivalent of watching a PG-13 movie,” Meta said. “We wanted to align our policies with an independent standard parents are already familiar with.”
Instagram already restricts sexually suggestive, graphic, or adult content such as tobacco or alcohol promotion on teen accounts. The new settings go further, tightening filters around strong language, risky stunts, and imagery linked to harmful behaviours, including posts featuring marijuana or drug paraphernalia.
Search results will also be restricted more aggressively. Keywords such as “alcohol” or “gore” — and even common misspellings — will be blocked under the new moderation system.
The approach has been designed to resemble the UK’s 12A cinema classification. Just as films such as Titanic or The Fast and the Furious may feature fleeting nudity or moderate violence but remain accessible to teenagers, the new Instagram rules will not prohibit all instances of partial nudity or stylised aggression.
Meta said the system would launch first in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, before being expanded to Europe and other regions early next year.
The move comes amid growing scrutiny of Meta’s child-safety record and the effectiveness of its moderation tools.
A recent independent review led by Arturo Béjar, a former senior Meta engineer turned whistleblower, concluded that 64% of new safety tools on Instagram were ineffective. Conducted alongside academics from New York University, Northeastern University and the UK’s Molly Rose Foundation, the study found persistent exposure to harmful content among teenage users.
Béjar said: “Kids are not safe on Instagram.”
Meta rejected the findings, insisting that parents already have “robust tools” to manage teenagers’ accounts and monitor activity.
The UK communications regulator Ofcom has also warned that social media companies must adopt a “safety-first approach” under the forthcoming Online Safety Act, saying platforms that fail to protect children will face enforcement action and potential fines.
Child-safety campaigners welcomed the intent behind the PG-13 system but questioned whether it would deliver meaningful change.
“Time and again Meta’s PR announcements do not result in meaningful safety updates for teens,” said Rowan Ferguson, policy manager at the Molly Rose Foundation. “As our recent report revealed, they still have work to do to protect young people from the most harmful content. These further updates must be judged on their effectiveness — and that requires transparency and independent testing.”
Critics argue that parental controls can be effective only if they are easy to use and clearly communicated to families, while some digital-rights advocates warn that over-blocking could limit teenagers’ access to legitimate health or educational resources.
The rollout of a PG-13-style content standard reflects Meta’s wider strategy to bring its platforms closer to traditional media norms amid rising pressure from governments and watchdogs.
By borrowing a familiar system from the film industry, Instagram hopes to reassure parents that it is taking responsibility for the wellbeing of its youngest users — and to set a benchmark other social platforms may now feel compelled to follow.
Read more:
Instagram to introduce PG-13-style controls to protect teen users, says Meta

Britain’s renewable electricity generation hit a new record for the third quarter of 2025, with wind and solar output combining to deliver the country’s cleanest power mix on record, according to the latest data from Montel Analytics.
In the three months to the end of September, total renewable output — including wind, solar, hydro and biomass — reached 31.9 terawatt hours (TWh), the highest Q3 figure since records began in 2014. Renewables accounted for 51% of Britain’s total power generation, overtaking all fossil-fuelled sources combined.
Wind power led the charge with 17.7TWh, up 6% year on year and the highest third-quarter output ever recorded by Montel. The increase came despite several periods of curtailment, particularly in September when strong winds coincided with weak demand, driving electricity prices into negative territory for several hours.
Solar generation also saw exceptional gains, producing 6.2TWh — the second-highest quarterly total since records began, behind only Q2 2025. This marked a 32% increase on Q3 2024’s total of 4.7TWh, fuelled by prolonged sunshine and intense summer heatwaves in early July and mid-August that sent temperatures soaring and boosted cooling demand across the UK.
Phil Hewitt, Director at Montel Analytics, said the figures reflect Britain’s accelerating transition toward renewable energy and the growing impact of clean generation on the overall power mix.
“High levels of renewable generation are symptomatic of a long-term commitment to producing more of our power from clean sources,” Hewitt said. “Wind output would have been even higher had it not been for several curtailments across the quarter. Because of the high levels of renewable generation, the requirement for gas-fired power was significantly reduced.”
The surge in renewables has continued to displace gas-fired power. Combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants produced 15.4TWh in Q3 — slightly up from the record low of 13.8TWh a year earlier, but still 25% below 2023 levels, when gas generation totalled 20.5TWh.
Meanwhile, output from Britain’s nuclear fleet fell to 7.8TWh, its lowest third-quarter level since 2014. Multiple reactors, including Hartlepool 2, Heysham 1 and 2, and Torness 1 and 2, were offline for maintenance and refuelling during the period.
As a result, Britain’s Q3 power mix was dominated by renewables (51%), followed by gas (24%), imports (13%), and nuclear (12%).
Hewitt noted that the high renewable share, combined with reduced summer demand, helped stabilise wholesale power prices during Q3.
“The quarter followed the expected seasonal trend, with warmer weather easing system demand and contributing to lower gas and electricity prices than seen in Q2,” he said. “We expect that stability to continue into Q4, unless geopolitical tensions — particularly in the Middle East — push gas prices higher.”
Gas storage levels across Europe are now nearly full ahead of winter, but analysts warn that emerging La Niña conditions could bring colder-than-normal weather to the UK and northern Europe later in the year.
“A La Niña event typically occurs every three to five years and can bring a colder winter,” Hewitt said. “That could increase demand, speed up storage drawdowns, and add upward pressure on wholesale prices. However, this appears to be a weak La Niña event and may fizzle out.”
The new data underlines the resilience and importance of renewables in the UK’s energy system — even amid market volatility and infrastructure constraints.
Analysts said the record-breaking quarter reinforces the UK’s position as a global leader in clean energy generation, while also highlighting the need for greater grid flexibility and storage to prevent curtailments during high-output periods.
As the UK heads into the winter months, the balance between renewable generation, system demand, and gas market stability will be critical to maintaining energy security — and to sustaining the downward trend in wholesale prices that consumers and businesses are hoping will continue.
Read more:
Wind and solar power drive UK renewable electricity record