To ensure that users get an age-appropriate environment, Microsoft has decided that the Twitter, Facebook, and Last.fm features soon-to-come on Xbox Live will be restricted to Xbox Live Gold users aged 18 and above.

Minors, don't worry. Microsoft is now working on a patch to let you guys use the features, provided that your parents approve, that is.

"We made this decision because as it stands now, parents aren’t able to use Family Settings to customise which of these applications their children can access. In order to offer an age-appropriate environment for everyone, we decided to turn off these applications for those Gold members under the age of 18," said Xbox exec Larry Hryb.

"We want to make sure everyone was aware, however, that the development team is working on an update that gives parents the choice of which social applications their children can access," he pointed out. "This means that Xbox Live members between the ages of 13 and 17 will be able to use Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm as long as their parents approve. The team hope to roll this out several weeks after launch and I will update you on the exact date as it gets closer,"

---

More on the coming Xbox Live features:

• Xbox 360 system updated again, still no FB, Twitter, Last.fm, Zune
• Facebook and Twitter for Xbox Live now dated for the UK