From July 2025, tech giants must radically change how they treat young users online, or face massive fines, site bans, or even jail time. But despite promises of “transformational” protections, critics argue the new rules still don’t go far enough.

Ofcom’s “Children’s Codes”: New Rules for a Safer Generation

UK media regulator Ofcom has published its final Children’s Codes, setting strict new standards for social media platforms, gaming apps, and search engines.

These Codes are part of the wider reforms introduced under the Online Safety Act.

Coming into force from 25 July 2025, companies must:

• Adjust their algorithms to prevent harmful content appearing in children’s feeds.
• Implement strong age verification checks to block access to restricted or adult content.
• Remove harmful material quickly and provide support for young users exposed to it.
• Make terms of service understandable to children.
• Let children decline invitations to group chats.
• Appoint a named executive responsible for children’s safety.
• Conduct annual reviews of their child protection measures at senior management level.

Failure to comply could result in fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover — and in very serious cases, Ofcom can apply for a court order to block the platform entirely in the UK.

Ofcom’s chief, Dame Melanie Dawes, described the new measures as a "gamechanger," while acknowledging that “there is never anything foolproof.”

Why This Matters: The Alarming Reality for Children Online

The urgency behind these changes is hard to ignore:

• 59% of 13–17-year-olds said they encountered potentially harmful content online in a single month.
• Children aged 8 to 17 are spending between two and five hours per day online.
• Nearly every child over 12 owns a smartphone and watches content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Perhaps most concerning:

• Half of 13-year-olds surveyed said they had seen hardcore misogynistic pornography.
• Exposure to material promoting self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide was described as "prolific" and "unavoidable."

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stressed that many children don’t actively seek harmful material, algorithms push it to them, reinforcing why feed-based controls are a crucial part of the new rules.

Not Everyone Is Celebrating

While the NSPCC welcomed the Children’s Codes as a "pivotal moment" for online safety, many experts argue that key gaps remain.

Private, encrypted messaging apps where much of the most dangerous content is shared, still present major risks. Campaigners say the codes don't yet go far enough to tackle these hidden spaces.

Meanwhile, Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly died after exposure to harmful online content, criticised the measures as "a bitter pill to swallow," voicing disappointment at what he sees as a lack of true ambition.

Privacy campaigners have also warned that enhanced age verification could cause security risks and digital exclusion, particularly if personal data is not adequately protected.

Netflix’s Adolescence: A Fictional Mirror of a Real Crisis

The hit Netflix drama Adolescence starkly reflects the real-world dangers facing young people online.

The series follows a young boy’s descent into violence after being radicalised through online platforms — a fictional but chilling example of how digital spaces can fuel real-life tragedies.

It mirrors the very threats that Ofcom’s new rules aim to confront.

A Step Forward — But the Fight Isn't Over

The Children’s Codes represent a vital shift toward holding tech giants accountable. For the first time, protecting children online is not just a moral responsibility, it’s a legal requirement.

Yet the early criticisms send a clear message:
Regulation must evolve as fast as technology — or it will always lag dangerously behind.

Vigilant enforcement, public scrutiny, and cultural change inside tech companies will be essential if the promise of a safer digital world for children is ever to be fulfilled.