Ofcom reports no significant change in children's exposure to harmful social media content

The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has reported that children's exposure to harmful online content has remained broadly unchanged during the first nine months of the Online Safety Act's implementation. Despite new legal duties introduced in July 2025 intended to compel platforms to proactively protect young users, Ofcom found “no significant change” in the proportion of children encountering harmful material or the severity of the harm reported.

In its Section 63 report, Ofcom has recommended that categories such as “body stigma”—content that shames physical characteristics—and content promoting depression be elevated to the highest protection level as “Priority Content.”

The findings arrive amid ongoing political debate regarding social media regulation, including potential bans on users under 16. While supporters of the Act suggest that more time and enforcement are required, critics argue the legislation has failed to deliver the intended transformative safety changes.