The Online Safety Act 2023

The Online Safety Act is a new law aimed at making the internet a safer place for all users, especially children. This law requires social media companies, search engines, and other online platforms to take steps to protect their users from harmful and illegal content.

For Parents and Children:

• Platforms must stop children from seeing harmful or age-inappropriate content, like pornography and self-harm topics.

• They need to offer easy ways for parents and children to report any online issues.

• Children should have online experiences that are safe and suitable for their age.

For Vulnerable Individuals:

• Platforms must quickly remove illegal content, such as harassment, stalking, and "revenge porn," which often affect women and girls.

• They must also have systems in place to remove content that encourages suicide or self-harm effectively.

For Businesses:

• Larger platforms need to give adult users more control over what they see online, including tools to block abuse from anonymous users.

• All platforms must check for illegal activity on their sites and take steps to prevent it.

• Companies that do not follow these rules can face heavy fines.

Examples of Breaches:

• A social media platform that allows children to access pornographic content.

• A platform that does not quickly take down content that promotes suicide or self-harm after it’s reported.

• A site that allows illegal "revenge porn" to be shared without proper removal measures.

• A large platform that fails to provide enough tools for adult users to manage their online experience and protect themselves.

Tips for Staying Safe Online

Aside from the protections provided by the Online Safety Act, there are steps you can take to keep your online privacy safe. Here are some simple methods:

1. Adjust Privacy Settings: Change your settings on social media to control who sees your posts and information.

2. Use Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone in addition to your password.

3. Consider Using a VPN: Services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and ProtonVPN can help keep your internet activity private and secure.

4. Clear Your Browser History and Cookies: Regularly delete your browsing history and cookies to enhance your privacy.

5. Be Careful with Personal Information: Limit what personal details you share on social media and other sites.

6. Use Encrypted Messaging Apps: Apps like Signal and WhatsApp keep your conversations private with end-to-end encryption.

7. Think Before You Share: Be mindful of what you post online to protect your privacy and security.

8. Try Privacy-Focused Search Engines: Search engines like DuckDuckGo don’t track your searches.

9. Reviewing app permissions - Checking which permissions you've granted to mobile apps and disabling any unnecessary access to your data.

10. Keep Your Software Updated: Install updates to fix security issues and protect your privacy.

The steps you choose will depend on your personal privacy concerns. Using a reliable VPN can greatly improve your online privacy and security.

References:

• UK Government. (2023). The Online Safety Act. Online Safety Act: explainer - GOV.UK.

• Ofcom. (2022). Online Safety Regulatory Framework. Learn more here.

• NSPCC. (2022). Online Safety. Visit their site here.

• Internet Privacy Guidelines. (2023). Best Practices for Online Privacy. Find out more here.

Contact Information:

• UK Government:

  • Website: www.gov.uk/contact

  • Phone: 0303 123 1113

• Ofcom:

  • Website: www.ofcom.org.uk/contact-us

  • Phone: 0300 123 3333

• NSPCC:

  • Website: www.nspcc.org.uk/contact-us

  • Phone: 0808 800 5000 (for children and adults)