Ofcom reckoned with tech firms to “name and shame” them if they do not comply with drafted codes of practice for implementing age checks. Parents of children who died after being exposed to the online harms of social media have commented that Ofcom’s “pace of change” is not fast enough.
However, Esther Grey, mother of Briana Grey, who was murdered by two teenagers in a Reading park in February 2023, has said she feels Ofcom “really do care” about changing the laws in place mandating age verification processes for under-18s. With 40 “practical measures”, tech companies have been directed to ask for ID such as passports and biometrics to allow minors onto their platforms, which would result in millions below the appropriate age being excluded.
In addition, companies will be forced to alter their algorithms which target suggested and search based content towards users.
