Social media companies will face penalties if they fail to protect children on their platforms, the UK communications regulator Ofcom has warned.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could be fined by the regulator if they do not comply with the new Online Safety Act, which takes effect early next year, according to Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes, speaking to the BBC.

Dame Melanie emphasised that the responsibility for ensuring online safety rests with the companies, not with parents or children.

Once the official guidance is finalised, companies will have three months to conduct risk assessments and implement necessary changes to safeguard users.

Ofcom has been developing codes of practice since the Act was passed, which requires social media platforms to protect children from harmful content, including self-harm, pornography, and violent material.

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