Landmark UK online safety legislation has failed to reduce the proportion of children experiencing harm on social media platforms, according to an admission by the country's online regulator.
In a review covering the first nine months of strict requirements imposed on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Ofcom reported that the rate of children encountering unsafe content remained virtually unchanged. Campaigners have criticized the lack of progress as "staggering," noting that young users are still regularly exposed to material that leaves them frightened, confused, and upset despite the regulatory crackdown.
The assessment underscores ongoing challenges for the watchdog in enforcing effective protections under the new regime. Ofcom's findings reveal that despite regulatory efforts, tech companies have yet to successfully curb the delivery of harmful material to minor accounts.
