The internet has become a central part of children’s lives. It is where they learn, play and connect with friends, offering incredible opportunities for growth and creativity. Yet with these opportunities come very real risks. While the internet might offer children access to entertainment and education it also harbours dangers such as encouraging harmful behaviours, giving predators access to young children, and cyberbullying. As such, the Online Safety Act was introduced to address these dangers and to ensure that children are better protected when they go online.

What the Online Safety Act requires of tech companies

At its core, the Online Safety Act holds tech companies to account. It places a duty of care on digital platforms to take responsibility for the content that appears on their services and for the impact that content may have on children. The law requires platforms to remove illegal material quickly, including child sexual exploitation content, terrorist propaganda and abusive material. It also demands that companies do more to shield children from harmful but legal content. 

A social media platform should prevent a twelve-year-old from being recommended videos that glorify self-harm or suicide, while a video-sharing site should ensure that age verification measures stop children from accessing violent or pornographic content. If companies fail to act, they face significant penalties, ensuring accountability is no longer optional.

How is Big Tech responding to the Online Safety Act?

The Act builds on steps that many tech companies have already begun to take in protecting children. Instagram and TikTok have introduced parental supervision tools that allow adults to see how much time children spend on the apps and set boundaries together. YouTube Kids was created as a safer environment with curated content for younger viewers, and Google has expanded its SafeSearch features to filter explicit results by default for users under 18. Gaming platforms like Xbox and PlayStation now allow parents to set playtime limits and control who children can communicate with online.

These measures are positive, but their effectiveness is mixed. Parental supervision tools rely on adults knowing how to use them, and children can sometimes bypass restrictions or switch to platforms without the same controls. YouTube Kids, while safer than the main app, has occasionally allowed inappropriate content to slip through filters, and SafeSearch depends on algorithms that are not flawless. 

Gaming platforms make it easier to restrict communication, but because children often play across multiple platforms, inconsistent protections can leave gaps. In short, tech companies’ efforts are helpful but not a complete solution, they work best when combined with active parental engagement, digital literacy education and the broader regulatory framework that the Online Safety Act aims to provide.

Concerns about privacy and overreach

Not everyone is convinced that the Online Safety Act has been thought through as carefully as it should have been. Some campaigners have raised concerns about privacy, particularly around the use of age-verification systems. These checks often require children and parents to hand over sensitive data, raising questions about where that information goes and whether it could be shared with third parties. 

Critics argue that while the intention is to keep children safe, the result may be increased surveillance or risks to personal data security. Others point out that vague definitions of “harmful but legal” content could lead to over-moderation, potentially restricting free expression or handing too much power to tech platforms to decide what children can and cannot see.

The role of parents, schools and communities

For parents and guardians, this legislation represents progress, but it does not remove the importance of having conversations at home. Imagine a child who comes across disturbing images on a friend’s phone, or a teenager who receives hurtful messages in a group chat. 

Legislation can help limit how often these things happen, but it cannot replace the support children need in those moments. Talking openly about what they encounter online, encouraging them to share both positive and negative experiences, and teaching them how to question what they see are all vital steps. Parental controls and filters can help too. For instance, setting screen time limits or blocking certain types of content can give children safe boundaries, while still allowing them the freedom to explore.

Schools and communities also have a role to play. Education about online safety should be as essential as teaching children how to cross the road safely. A primary school might run workshops on recognising when an online “friend” is really a stranger, while a secondary school could teach students how to spot fake news and misinformation. Community groups and charities often provide resources for families who are struggling, whether it’s advice on dealing with cyberbullying or support for children who have been exposed to harmful material. Listening to young people themselves is also crucial; when they explain what feels unsafe online, their insights can guide more effective protections.

Striking the right balance

The Online Safety Act is not a perfect solution, nor will it eliminate every danger. The internet is vast and constantly evolving, and new risks will continue to emerge. However, this legislation is an important step towards reshaping the digital landscape so that children can explore, learn and thrive without fear. By combining regulation, education, action from big tech and honest conversation at home, we can begin to build an online world that protects children – while still questioning whether the balance between safety, privacy and freedom has been struck in the right way.