Tech companies are facing stricter age verification requirements, according to a warning issued by Ofcom, which threatens to ban them for users under 18 if they fail to comply with

new online safety regulations.

The media watchdog has released a draft code of practice focused on children's safety, mandating social media platforms to implement more robust age verification procedures and adjust their algorithms to prevent the promotion of harmful content to minors. Dame Melanie Dawes, the head of Ofcom, cautioned that any company found in violation of these codes could face public condemnation and have their minimum user age raised to 18.

Despite these efforts, some parents, whose children tragically experienced harm from online content, have criticized Ofcom's measures as inadequate. They are set to appear on BBC Breakfast to express their disappointment and advocate for stronger action from policymakers.

Ofcom's regulatory overhaul, following the enactment of the Online Safety Act, aims to ensure compliance from tech firms. The proposed measures include algorithm adjustments to filter out harmful content from children's feeds, stricter age verification for accessing such content, and the implementation of enhanced content moderation tools like "safe search" functions.

According to Ofcom's timeline, these regulations are expected to be enforced in the latter half of 2025. Dame Melanie emphasized the importance of creating a safer online environment for children, acknowledging the detrimental impact of exposure to harmful content on their well-being.

Notably, individuals like Ian Russell and Esther Ghey, who have experienced personal tragedies related to online content, are advocating for stronger measures to protect children online. They have urged political leaders to prioritize online safety legislation and integrate mental health and suicide prevention education into school curricula.

The government has endorsed Ofcom's measures as pivotal in transforming children's online experiences in the UK and urged tech giants to cooperate proactively. However, many tech companies, including Meta (owner of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp), X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, YouTube, and Apple, have either remained silent or declined to comment on the proposed regulations. Despite this, photo-sharing platform Flickr has affirmed its commitment to safety without specifically addressing the draft measures. Photo by Jim Linwood, Wikimedia commons.