The UK government has taken a significant step towards ensuring a safer online experience for children. The Office of Communications (Ofcom), the UK's online safety regulator, has finalized new rules that require tech firms to implement robust measures to protect children from harmful content online. These measures are part of the Online Safety Act, which aims to make the internet a safer place for kids. The new rules, set to take effect on July 25, 2025, will require online platforms to take a proactive approach to protecting children from online harm.

What Do the New Rules Mean ?

The new rules are designed to prevent children from encountering harmful content online, including material related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and pornography. Online services will also be required to protect children from misogynistic, violent, hateful, or abusive material, online bullying, and dangerous challenges. To achieve this, online platforms will need to implement effective age checks, filter out harmful content from children's feeds, and take fast action to review, assess, and tackle harmful content when they become aware of it. 

Additionally, online services will need to provide children with more control over their online experience, including options to report content, block and mute accounts, and disable comments. One of the key aspects of the new rules is the requirement for online platforms to implement effective age checks. This will involve using highly effective age assurance measures to identify and protect children from harmful content. 

Online services will need to ensure that their age checks are robust and effective, and that they are able to accurately identify children and protect them from harm. This may involve preventing children from accessing certain parts of a website or app, or providing them with a more limited experience that is suitable for their age.

The Role of Ofcom

As the UK's online safety regulator, Ofcom has wide-ranging powers across the television, radio, telecoms, internet, and postal sectors. Ofcom is committed to ensuring that the internet is a safe and welcoming place for everyone. The new rules are an important step towards achieving this goal, and will help to protect children from harm and ensure that they have a positive online experience. 

By implementing effective age checks, filtering out harmful content, and providing more control and support, online platforms can help to create a safer online environment for children. The UK government is taking a proactive approach to ensuring a safer online experience for kids. With Ofcom's oversight and enforcement, tech firms will be held accountable for protecting children online, and children will be better equipped to navigate the online world safely and confidently.