Social media faces big changes under UK watchdog Ofcom rules | BBC News

Social media companies will face punishments for failing to keep children safe on their platforms, the UK's communications watchdog Ofcom has warned.

Services like Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp could face fines from the regulator if they do not comply with the new Online Safety Act - which comes into force early next year.

Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said it was the responsibility of the firms - not parents or children - to make sure people were safe online.

Companies will have three months from when the guidance is finalised to carry out risk assessments and make relevant changes to safeguard users.

#SocialMedia #UK #BBCNews

[therussiangovernment]

I don't have a kid, but I do feel like leaving your child on the Internet unsupervised is like leaving them on the street unsupervised

[marvinandroid]

Restrict social media use to over 18s only. If parents then choose to illegally authorise their children to use social media, they bear responsibility for their children's safety.
Keeping children off social media promotes direct interpersonal relationship skills, improves the ability to communicate verbally and better prepares an individual to enter the mad, adult world of internet interaction.

[itsbw]

Are parents going to start parenting as well? That'd reduce the amount of cases as well.

[jamesantni]

Social media should be for over 18 only

[daledevernon]

Parents are 100% responsible for what their children see on the devices that they purchase for them because they do not implement parental controls on said devices, because they don't want to deal with The fallout.

[matthewdiment]

ban phones in schools would be a sensible choice also

[jamesgilheany]

It's trojan horse to punish people online for wrong think.

[strangelee]

Because children were always safe at the BBC...😅

[Hickalum]

We are sick of elites telling us what we can, and cannot do … what we can say … what we can see … where we can go, who we meet, what we can eat …

[jeeshadow]

Maybe if we open all the windows, we can slow down this run-away train.

[Jackie-cybp]

I would like to see the comment section unavailable for under 18 year olds?

[Shining]

Peddling propaganda is still okay though 📰

[davidthompson]

Don't let you're kid use it

[robertskolimowski]

First of all, Ofcom should consult professionals and academics like that professor at the end of the video.

[boris]

The far left BBC should be first to close down. 😅😅😅

[JPnielsen]

That's right, parents shouldn't be responsible for their kids, Facebook should. I mean that's just obvious... 🙄

[CricketEngland]

Are they planning on closing or banning TicTok in the U.K.? If not why not?

[miss_pkay]

This needs to be happening worldwide 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[mayolnis]

The problem is not the system but who uses and exploits it.

[_ArsNova]

How about instead of saddling companies with the responsibility of parenting children (who can easily lie about their age), parents take responsibility for the upbringing they want their children to have.