Ofcom strengthens online safety rules against cyberflashing and self-harm content

Ofcom has introduced stronger online safety measures requiring technology companies to take more robust action against cyberflashing and illegal self-harm content across dating, messaging and social media platforms.

The updated guidance builds on the UK’s Online Safety Act by expanding the obligations of online services to detect, moderate and reduce harmful content that disproportionately affects vulnerable users.

Under the revised measures, platforms must make it easier to report unsolicited sexual images, ensure moderation teams are adequately trained and resourced, remove illegal content more quickly and provide blocking and muting tools to help users manage unwanted interactions.

Companies must also strengthen safeguards against illegal self-harm content by reviewing recommendation algorithms, displaying crisis support information for relevant searches and improving reporting systems for harmful predictive search suggestions.

Ofcom also highlighted the growing threat posed by so-called ‘Com’ groups, criminal online networks that groom and manipulate victims into self-harm and other harmful behaviour.

Services offering direct messaging and presenting grooming risks will be expected to implement child safety defaults, ensuring minors can only receive messages from existing contacts. Additional measures targeting suicide and self harm content are expected later in 2026.

Technology companies must now review their online safety risk assessments and implement appropriate mitigation measures before the updated Codes take legal effect following parliamentary approval.

Ofcom said the strengthened framework reflects the evolving nature of online harms while reinforcing expectations that platforms proactively protect users from illegal and harmful content.

Why does it matter?

The updated Online Safety Codes reinforce a shift towards proactive platform accountability. Rather than relying primarily on user reports, online services are expected to identify risks, strengthen content moderation, improve safety-by-design features and reduce users’ exposure to illegal and harmful content before it spreads.

The measures also demonstrate how the UK is translating the Online Safety Act into detailed operational requirements. As regulators around the world consider similar approaches to platform governance, Ofcom’s implementation of risk assessments, child safety defaults and stronger moderation obligations could influence future online safety frameworks beyond the UK.

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