Online safety gaps persist, Ofcom finds

What's happened

Ofcom reports nine months after the Online Safety Act’s safety duties began that harmful content exposure among children is unchanged, with personalised feeds driving much of the risk; regulators warn enforcement must tighten to protect youngsters.

What's behind the headline?

brief:

• Ofcom’s nine‑month review shows no meaningful reduction in children’s exposure to harmful content, despite new safety duties.
• Personalised feeds remain the main vector, with girls more exposed to suicide/self-harm content and to pornographic material than boys.
• The report coincides with heightened concern over platform design features that keep young users engaged, and with ongoing legal challenges from tech companies against Ofcom.

writing style:

• This analysis foregrounds the implications for readers: the safety regime relies on enforcement and platform accountability, not just policy promises.
• It is unlikely that the status quo will persist without decisive action from regulators and ministers; stronger penalties for failures may follow.

forecast:

• Expect intensified calls for criminal penalties for serious failings by executives and tighter enforcement of age checks and safety tools.

How we got here

The Online Safety Act aimed to shield children from harmful online content. In nine months since duties took effect in July 2025, Ofcom finds no significant drop in exposure. The findings come as policymakers debate enforcement and consider tougher measures, including age checks and ID requirements for teens.

Our analysis

The Guardian reports Ofcom’s findings on nine months since the Online Safety Act duties began; The Guardian notes industry challenges and government responses; The Scotsman and The Guardian also cover reactions and safety culture concerns.

Go deeper

• What new steps will Ofcom take to enforce the act?
• Will ministers push for criminal penalties for major tech failures?
• How might age verification change access for teens?

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