The Online Safety Act 2023 (the Act) protects children and adults online. It puts a range of new duties on social media companies and search services, giving them legal duties to protect their users from illegal content and content harmful to children.
The Act gives providers new duties to implement systems and processes to reduce risks their services are used for illegal activity, and to take down illegal content when it does appear.
The Act’s duties apply to search services and services that allow users to post content online or to interact with each other. This includes a range of websites, apps and other services, including social media services, consumer file cloud storage and sharing sites, video-sharing platforms, online forums, dating services, and online instant messaging services.
As of 25 July 2025, platforms have a legal duty to protect children online.
A full explanation of how the Act works, and how it protects different groups is available in the Online Safety Act explainer.
The Act requires Ofcom to develop guidance and codes of practice that will set out how online platforms can meet their duties. This information helps businesses, parents, and the public understand the Act’s requirements and implementation timeline. Ofcom has also created a guide for parents.
Find out more about Online Safety on GOV.UK
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