Today’s headlines prove one thing only: Ofcom may change online child safety rules – but Big Tech is still in control
The BBC reports that Ofcom has finalised new rules to protect children online. While that’s a step forward, the deeper issue – Big Tech’s manipulation of users and monopoly over online behaviour – remains unchallenged.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
What do the new rules actually say?
Ofcom’s finalised regulations set out more than 40 measures that online platforms must follow. These include:
-
Adjusting algorithms to filter out harmful content from children’s feeds
-
Introducing robust age checks for age-restricted content
-
Taking swift action when harmful material is flagged
-
Making terms of service easy for children to understand
-
Giving children the ability to decline group chat invites that may include harmful content
-
Offering support to children who encounter distressing material
-
Appointing a named individual responsible for children’s safety
-
Annual risk assessments reviewed by senior management
These rules aren’t suggestions – they have the force of law behind them. Companies that fail to comply face fines or even bans from the UK.
Critics, of course, have lined up to say the measures “don’t go far enough”. But here’s the question: can you say what would go further? Can you name a single concrete improvement? If not, then you’re not as informed as you think – and that’s exactly how Big Tech and government alike want it. A little outrage without understanding is easy to manage. Real change takes knowledge – and pressure.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Damage control – not real reform
Let’s be clear: Ofcom may change online child safety rules, but these new rules are not revolutionary. They’re damage control. They patch up the worst excesses of an industry built on exploiting attention, while leaving the real source of harm untouched.
Because while children might now get a slightly cleaner feed, Big Tech still decides what the rest of us see. These platforms – Meta, Google, TikTok – hold the keys to public conversation, commerce, even democracy itself. And they’re not accountable to us. They answer only to shareholders.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
And what about the rest of us?
I run a business that depends on people visiting my website. That means getting traffic from social media. But platforms like Facebook don’t want users to click away. They punish external links. They boost posts that keep people inside their walled garden. The result? Fewer clicks, less revenue, and a slow squeeze on anyone who dares to operate independently of the algorithm.
That’s not just frustrating – it’s unsustainable. Independent media, small businesses, local campaigns – we’re all being locked out. And if you’ve noticed fewer posts from your favourite sites, or wondered why your reach is shrinking, you’re probably feeling it too.
So let’s hear from you
That’s my experience. But I know it’s not the only one. Maybe you’ve seen your own posts vanish without explanation. Maybe you’ve had to pay just to be visible. Maybe you’ve noticed more ads and less of what you actually care about.
Tell us. Because it’s only by pooling our experiences that we can start to build a clearer picture of what’s really happening online – and push back against the narrative that “tech knows best.”
Algorithms are political – and we don’t even know it
When you scroll through your Facebook feed or browse YouTube, you’re not just looking at a neutral selection of content. You’re looking at what an algorithm chooses to show you. These platforms, after all, don’t care what you should see – they care about what keeps you hooked. And what keeps you hooked isn’t always what’s best for you, or for society.
The problem is that most people don’t see it that way.
They see the content they want to see and think, “Great, I got what I was looking for.” But they don’t consider the flipside: What’s missing? What are they not being shown? Which voices, ideas, or sources are deliberately hidden or buried by the platform?
Algorithms are inherently political—in that they reflect the priorities of the people who build them, and the interests of the companies that profit from them. If Facebook’s algorithm favours content that generates more interaction—whether that’s outrage, viral memes, or partisan posts—then it’s shaping political discourse, whether we like it or not. And we can’t even challenge it, because we don’t see what’s left out.
This is where the real power lies.
Without transparency, without insight into how decisions are made behind the scenes, we’re surrendering our choices multiple times a day. Every time we click, like, or share, we’re letting the algorithm dictate the flow of information. And that’s not just a minor inconvenience—it’s a political decision about what we get to know and, crucially, what we don’t.
Personal control: a missing ingredient
This is where Ofcom’s new rules fall short. Yes, they’re trying to clean up harmful content, and that’s a step in the right direction. But they don’t tackle the bigger issue of algorithmic transparency and personal control. Without being able to see or alter the algorithm that shapes our feeds, we’re still at the mercy of the tech giants. And for those of us running businesses or publishing content, that means we’re still locked out of real visibility.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
It’s not over yet
Ofcom may change online child safety rules – and the new rules might make a difference in some areas, but they are far from the sweeping reform we need. They’re a response to the loudest critics, but they don’t challenge the deeper, structural issues with Big Tech: unchecked power, hidden algorithms, and a business model that profits from our addiction to distraction.
We’re still waiting for real accountability. And until we have full transparency about how platforms decide what we see – and until we have more personal control over those choices – this problem won’t go away.
The rules Ofcom has put in place may keep a few children safer online, but they do nothing to change the way Big Tech shapes our world – quietly, invisibly, and relentlessly. And that’s the fight we still need to be having.
Now – because I can’t beat them on my own…
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And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
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Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Ofcom may change online child safety rules – but Big Tech is still in control
Today’s headlines prove one thing only: Ofcom may change online child safety rules – but Big Tech is still in control
The BBC reports that Ofcom has finalised new rules to protect children online. While that’s a step forward, the deeper issue – Big Tech’s manipulation of users and monopoly over online behaviour – remains unchallenged.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
What do the new rules actually say?
Ofcom’s finalised regulations set out more than 40 measures that online platforms must follow. These include:
Adjusting algorithms to filter out harmful content from children’s feeds
Introducing robust age checks for age-restricted content
Taking swift action when harmful material is flagged
Making terms of service easy for children to understand
Giving children the ability to decline group chat invites that may include harmful content
Offering support to children who encounter distressing material
Appointing a named individual responsible for children’s safety
Annual risk assessments reviewed by senior management
These rules aren’t suggestions – they have the force of law behind them. Companies that fail to comply face fines or even bans from the UK.
Critics, of course, have lined up to say the measures “don’t go far enough”. But here’s the question: can you say what would go further? Can you name a single concrete improvement? If not, then you’re not as informed as you think – and that’s exactly how Big Tech and government alike want it. A little outrage without understanding is easy to manage. Real change takes knowledge – and pressure.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Damage control – not real reform
Let’s be clear: Ofcom may change online child safety rules, but these new rules are not revolutionary. They’re damage control. They patch up the worst excesses of an industry built on exploiting attention, while leaving the real source of harm untouched.
Because while children might now get a slightly cleaner feed, Big Tech still decides what the rest of us see. These platforms – Meta, Google, TikTok – hold the keys to public conversation, commerce, even democracy itself. And they’re not accountable to us. They answer only to shareholders.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
And what about the rest of us?
I run a business that depends on people visiting my website. That means getting traffic from social media. But platforms like Facebook don’t want users to click away. They punish external links. They boost posts that keep people inside their walled garden. The result? Fewer clicks, less revenue, and a slow squeeze on anyone who dares to operate independently of the algorithm.
That’s not just frustrating – it’s unsustainable. Independent media, small businesses, local campaigns – we’re all being locked out. And if you’ve noticed fewer posts from your favourite sites, or wondered why your reach is shrinking, you’re probably feeling it too.
So let’s hear from you
That’s my experience. But I know it’s not the only one. Maybe you’ve seen your own posts vanish without explanation. Maybe you’ve had to pay just to be visible. Maybe you’ve noticed more ads and less of what you actually care about.
Tell us. Because it’s only by pooling our experiences that we can start to build a clearer picture of what’s really happening online – and push back against the narrative that “tech knows best.”
Algorithms are political – and we don’t even know it
When you scroll through your Facebook feed or browse YouTube, you’re not just looking at a neutral selection of content. You’re looking at what an algorithm chooses to show you. These platforms, after all, don’t care what you should see – they care about what keeps you hooked. And what keeps you hooked isn’t always what’s best for you, or for society.
The problem is that most people don’t see it that way.
They see the content they want to see and think, “Great, I got what I was looking for.” But they don’t consider the flipside: What’s missing? What are they not being shown? Which voices, ideas, or sources are deliberately hidden or buried by the platform?
Algorithms are inherently political—in that they reflect the priorities of the people who build them, and the interests of the companies that profit from them. If Facebook’s algorithm favours content that generates more interaction—whether that’s outrage, viral memes, or partisan posts—then it’s shaping political discourse, whether we like it or not. And we can’t even challenge it, because we don’t see what’s left out.
This is where the real power lies.
Without transparency, without insight into how decisions are made behind the scenes, we’re surrendering our choices multiple times a day. Every time we click, like, or share, we’re letting the algorithm dictate the flow of information. And that’s not just a minor inconvenience—it’s a political decision about what we get to know and, crucially, what we don’t.
Personal control: a missing ingredient
This is where Ofcom’s new rules fall short. Yes, they’re trying to clean up harmful content, and that’s a step in the right direction. But they don’t tackle the bigger issue of algorithmic transparency and personal control. Without being able to see or alter the algorithm that shapes our feeds, we’re still at the mercy of the tech giants. And for those of us running businesses or publishing content, that means we’re still locked out of real visibility.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
It’s not over yet
Ofcom may change online child safety rules – and the new rules might make a difference in some areas, but they are far from the sweeping reform we need. They’re a response to the loudest critics, but they don’t challenge the deeper, structural issues with Big Tech: unchecked power, hidden algorithms, and a business model that profits from our addiction to distraction.
We’re still waiting for real accountability. And until we have full transparency about how platforms decide what we see – and until we have more personal control over those choices – this problem won’t go away.
The rules Ofcom has put in place may keep a few children safer online, but they do nothing to change the way Big Tech shapes our world – quietly, invisibly, and relentlessly. And that’s the fight we still need to be having.
Now – because I can’t beat them on my own…
Please subscribe to the email list on Vox Political’s home page, and like and comment on the link in whichever social media platform you came here from!
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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