Today marks a significant milestone as new regulations from Ofcom come into effect requiring tech companies to implement measures such as robust age assurance across platforms where children may encounter harmful content as part of the enforcement of the Children’s Codes. SWGfL welcomes these changes and the increasing momentum behind meaningful online safety reform in the UK.
The new rules, which come into force from today, demand that services hosting or enabling access to material, such as pornography, content promoting self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or extreme violence must have highly effective age checks. This includes not only dedicated adult sites but also social media platforms like Discord, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and others that have committed to improving protections for younger users.
A Vital Step Forward But Not the Final One
These measures represent a significant step towards a more enforced environment for children and young people, and we fully support Ofcom’s efforts as well as the ambition and breadth of its enforcement strategy.
However, while we celebrate this progress, it is essential to acknowledge that more work remains. Robust, consistent enforcement of these rules will show us whether this strategy is a success, not just on high-profile platforms, but across the full spectrum of digital services where risks persist.
While we recognise the steps being made today, other types of harmful content such as non-consensual intimate imagery, misogynistic content and online coercion remain all too visible in many online spaces. Today’s changes must lay the groundwork for further protections, particularly for vulnerable groups and those at risk of targeted abuse, especially women and girls.
Enforcement and Accountability
We are especially encouraged to see Ofcom launching a wide-reaching monitoring and impact programme to hold platforms accountable. It is vital that companies do not rely on self-regulation or vague terms of service to meet their duties. Platforms must demonstrate how they are effectively:
- Identifying and protecting child users
- Configuring algorithms to block harmful content
- Preventing inappropriate adult-child interactions
- Tackling emerging harms such as NCII and digitally altered sexual imagery
The success of this framework will depend on transparent enforcement, clear public reporting, and ongoing consultation with children, educators, and experts in safeguarding.
David Wright CBE CEO of SWGfL said: ‘’Today’s changes reflect growing public demand for online spaces to be effectively safeguarded. Ofcom’s measures are a vital and welcome move that begin to shift the balance towards much needed accountability and enforcement.
While the scale and complexity of online harms continue to evolve, regulation must always keep pace. It is a milestone to see the Children’s Codes enforced, but it must be complemented by further protections against harms (such as NCII) that continue to plague our online spaces.’’
