UK children just as likely to have suffered harm on social media despite crackdown
A new Ofcom review reveals that the UK's Online Safety Act has failed to reduce the amount of harmful content children encounter on social media platforms. Despite new regulations introduced in 2025, children continue to be exposed to graphic violence, pornography, and bullying via algorithmic feeds.
Why it matters
The findings highlight the ongoing struggle of regulators to hold tech giants accountable for the safety of minors in digital spaces.
Under the Online Safety Act, tech giants had to protect children from harmful content with a series of duties introduced in summer 2025. Under the Online Safety Act, tech giants had to protect children from harmful content with a series of duties introduced in summer 2025. Children Online safety laws have failed to protect children in UK, Ofcom admits Campaigners call lack of progress ‘staggering’ as online regulator issues review of first nine months of new regime
Prefer the Guardian on Google Landmark online safety measures have failed to limit the proportion of children suffering harm from social media, the UK’s online regulator has admitted, in an assessment branded “staggering” by campaigners.
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