Big Changes to UK Law to Protect Children Online
On 25 July 2025, new rules began in the UK to keep children safer online. These rules are part of the Online Safety Act, and they are run by Ofcom, the organisation that watches over the internet in Britain (theguardian.com).
What’s different now?
Age checks for adult websites: Sites with adult content like pornography or pages about self harm or eating disorders must now make sure anyone visiting is at least 18. Tick boxes aren’t enough. Users may need to show ID, scan their face or use a bank or phone check to prove their age (theguardian.com).
Filtering harmful content for children: Social media and search sites must stop showing children content that encourages things like self harm, suicide, eating disorders or dangerous challenges. It also must block bullying, hateful or violent posts (theguardian.com).
Better reporting tools and safety features: Platforms must let children easily report problems. They also must add tools like comment controls, blocking and muting to help kids stay safer online (ofcom.org.uk).
Who has to follow these rules?
Big sites like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) must comply or face big fines. Companies that ignore the rules may be fined up to £18 million or 10% of their global income, or even risk their site being blocked in the UK (theguardian.com).
Why did this happen?
The new laws follow years of concern about children seeing harmful content online. Ofcom listened to thousands of kids and parents when writing the rules. Their goal: to make the UK one of the safest places online for children (ofcom.org.uk).
Are there concerns?
Some people worry that age checks like face scans or ID uploads could lead to privacy problems. Others say the new laws don’t do enough to deal with addictive features like endless feeds and notification tricks, which some experts call “dopamine loops” (theguardian.com).
What does this mean for kids?
You should no longer stumble across adult or harmful content by accident.
Your favourite online platforms will be safer and offer better tools to report things you don’t feel happy about.
Websites that don’t follow the rules could be blocked or face penalties.