UK children just as likely to have suffered harm on social media despite crackdown
Summary
The UK’s online safety rules for social media have not reduced the number of children seeing harmful content like violence, bullying, or suicide material. A report by the UK regulator Ofcom found no big change in children’s exposure to harmful posts in the first nine months after new laws were introduced in July 2025.Key Facts
- The Online Safety Act began applying new rules for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram in July 2025.
- These rules require platforms to protect children from harmful content including pornography, violence, racism, suicide material, and bullying.
- Ofcom’s review showed no significant drop in children seeing harmful content during the first nine months after the rules started.
- Harmful content included graphic videos and posts that frightened children or made them feel unsafe.
- Algorithms that recommend content to users were a major cause of children being exposed to harmful material.
- The report was shared with UK government digital and media officials.
- Child protection groups said children are still exposed to harmful content at high levels and called for stronger tech company action.
- Social media companies like Meta, TikTok, and X are legally challenging Ofcom’s powers to enforce these rules.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
