A Summary of Ofcom’s Protection of Children Codes

Ofcom have released new Protection of Children Codes under the Online Safety Act. These new safety measures highlight that tech companies now have a legal duty to protect children from harmful content across social media, search engines, online gaming and more. They now have until July to start implementing technology that is appropriate for their platforms, to make sure that young people are kept safe online.

The Codes demand a ‘safety-first’ approach in how tech firms design and operate their services in the UK, and the changes that Ofcom propose will mean safer social feeds, stronger age checks and more help and control for children online.

What are the key dates platforms need to be aware of?

• • Children’s Access Assessments
    By 16th April 2025, all online services must have completed a Children’s Access Assessment to evaluate whether children are likely to use their service.
  • Children’s Risk Assessments
    If a service is likely to be accessed by children, it must conduct a dedicated Children’s Risk Assessment. Providers of these services now have until July 24th to finalise and record their assessment of the risk their service poses to children.
  • Apply safety measures to reduce risk
    From 25 July 2025, services must implement safety measures to prevent children from encountering the most dangerous categories of content – otherwise known as Primary Priority Content – including suicide and self-harm material, eating disorder-related content and pornography.