Summary
The UK media regulator, Ofcom, needs websites to change how they suggest content to young people and to use better checks for how old someone is. If websites don't do this, they might have to pay a lot of money. Ofcom introduced "Children's Codes" that help protect kids. If websites suggest harmful content to kids, they will need to take stronger steps to stop kids from seeing this.
Key Facts
- Many websites need to change how they suggest content to young people, says Ofcom, the media regulator in the UK.
- Websites are being told to use stronger checks to make sure they know how old someone is.
- Ofcom has made "Children's Codes" which are rules to help protect kids.
- Websites that suggest harmful things like self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide, need to take more action to stop kids from seeing this content.
- If websites do not follow these rules, Ofcom can make them pay a lot of money.
- These new rules need to be approved by the parliament according to the Online Safety Act.
- If websites do not follow the rules, Ofcom can even ask for a court order to stop the website from being available in the UK.
- Ofcom wants to make sure that companies who offer services to under 18s change how they operate their services.
- Finally, the NSPCC (a charity that helps children) supports the Codes but says more needs to be done, especially with private messaging apps where platforms cannot see what is being sent.
