Major technology companies including Snapchat, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and Roblox have committed to new measures designed to better protect children from online harm, following pressure from the UK regulator Ofcom.
These changes focus particularly on preventing online grooming and limiting contact between children and unknown adults. For example, some platforms will now block adults from contacting children by default, while others are introducing stricter privacy settings for young users. New tools powered by artificial intelligence will also help detect suspicious or inappropriate conversations and take action more quickly. In addition, some platforms are offering parents greater control, such as the ability to disable direct messaging for younger users.
A key improvement is that companies have agreed to consider children’s safety earlier when designing new features, rather than responding after risks are identified. This represents a shift towards “safety by design”, where protecting young users becomes part of the development process.
However, concerns remain. Regulators found that many children are still exposed to harmful content through social media feeds, particularly on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, where further safety commitments have not yet been made. Research shows that a high proportion of young people continue to encounter harmful material online, often while scrolling recommended content.
There are also ongoing challenges with age restrictions. Despite most platforms having a minimum age of 13, many younger children still access these services. Regulators are calling for clearer laws and stronger age verification to address this issue.
Ofcom has made clear that it will continue to monitor companies closely and take action if necessary to ensure children are better protected online.
Image source and more information: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/tech-firms-commit-to-stronger-anti-grooming-measures-in-response-to-ofcom-demands
Have a great weekend.
