Child protection rules in place since 2025

Since the summer of 2025, major online platforms in the UK have been required to protect children from harmful content, including pornography, racism, violence, misogyny, suicide-related material, and harassment.

No clear impact on harmful content exposure

The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, found no statistically significant change in the proportion of teenagers reporting exposure to harmful content in the first nine months after the new rules took effect in July 2025.

Focus on specific harmful content

The report highlights that content related to pornography, suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders remains a major concern. The regulator found no evidence that the severity of harm experienced by children had changed.

Survey of children and adolescents

The findings are based on an online survey of children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years, conducted before and after the implementation of the Online Safety Act. The survey focused on exposure to harmful content.

Age verification and content filtering

Online platforms that host pornographic content must now implement age verification systems. The rules also require stronger moderation of harmful content and adjustments to content recommendation algorithms to protect minors.

Persistent exposure through personalized feeds

Despite these measures, personalized content feeds remain the main channel through which children are exposed to harmful content. Girls report higher exposure to suicide-related and eating disorder content than boys, often feeling disturbed after viewing such material.

Bypassing moderation with coded language

Boys and young men exploring motivation and personal development content can quickly encounter extreme posts promoting misogyny and racism. Moderation rules are often circumvented using coded language or deliberately misspelled keywords.

Regulator calls for more accountability

Ofcom acknowledges that the online sector has largely avoided accountability for over two decades. However, progress is being made, including the implementation of age checks and stronger protections against predators and abuse of minors.

Sanctions and investigations underway

The regulator has launched an investigation into TikTok, focusing on its age verification processes. The UK government also plans to ban social networks for those under 16 years old starting in the spring.

Expanding harmful content categories

Ofcom recommends adding two new categories to the list of harmful content: stigmatization of physical appearance and promotion of depression, despair, and feelings of impasse. These additions would ensure platforms consistently address these issues.

Expanding bans in London

London is expanding restrictions on digital content for those under 16, including social networks and video games, aiming to create a safer environment for young users.