Campaigners have expressed concern over the lack of progress in protecting children from harmful content on social media, as the UK's online regulator, Ofcom, admits that the proportion of children suffering harm remains largely unchanged. This assessment has been described as "staggering" by advocates for child safety.

Overview of Findings

According to Ofcom's review, which covers the first nine months of the Online Safety Act, the percentage of children exposed to unsafe content has not significantly decreased. The Act, which came into effect in July 2025, mandates that tech giants like TikTok and Instagram take measures to protect children from harmful material, including pornography, violence, and bullying.

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"At a total level, there was no significant change in the proportion of children encountering harmful content over the first nine months after the children’s safety duties came into force," Ofcom stated.

Examples of Harmful Content

The review highlighted alarming instances of harmful content, including:

  • Exposure to graphic pornography
  • Violent content, such as the murder of Charlie Kirk
  • Material related to suicide that has left children feeling unsafe in their communities

Ofcom identified that personalized recommendation algorithms were a major factor in the continued exposure to harmful material.

Recent Developments

The findings come shortly after a coroner indicated that access to suicide-related content on TikTok may have significantly influenced the tragic decision of Adriana Retyte, a 14-year-old student, to take her own life in May. Additionally, the recent legal troubles of Clavicular, a social media influencer, have raised further concerns about the impact of harmful content creators on platforms.