The Online Safety Act, which aims to make the internet safer for children, will bring about “very significant changes” for social media companies as new legal safeguarding rules come into force early next year. The Chief Executive of Ofcom, Dame Melanie Dawes, revealed that companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp could face fines if they fail to comply with the new regulations.
One of the key changes includes allowing users to remove themselves from toxic group chats without others being able to see they have left. Dame Melanie emphasized that it is the responsibility of the companies, not parents or children, to ensure online safety.
Platforms will also be required to demonstrate their commitment to removing illegal content such as child sexual abuse, promotion of self-harm, and animal cruelty. Dame Melanie stressed the importance of companies being transparent about the risks their services expose users to.
Ofcom has been working on codes of practice since the Online Safety Act became law just under a year ago, with the aim of protecting children from harmful material. When the new legal safeguards become enforceable, the regulator will be ready to take action against companies that do not meet the requirements.
Overall, significant changes are expected in the way social media companies operate to ensure a safer online environment for all users.
