Online Digital Safety and the UK Online Safety Act 2023
Online digital safety means protecting yourself and your data from online threats by using strong passwords, keeping software updated, enabling two-factor authentication, being cautious with links/downloads, managing privacy settings, and limiting personal info shared, ensuring safe browsing habits and secure connections.
It also involves understanding risks like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and scams, with laws like the UK’s Online Safety Act aiming to hold platforms accountable for user safety, especially for children.
What the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 Says?
The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, enacted in October 2023, aims to make the internet safer by placing legal duties on tech companies to protect users, especially children, from illegal and harmful content, with Ofcom as the regulator.
Key provisions include removing illegal material, safeguarding kids from pornography/self-harm/suicide content via strong age checks (effective 24th July 2025), and requiring risk assessments for user-to-user services and search engines, with penalties for non-compliance.
The Act also mandates protecting journalistic content and addresses encryption’s impact, but its implementation faces significant industry challenges.
Key Practices for Online Safety
- Passwords & Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords, enable 2FA, and never share login details.
- Software & Devices: Keep operating systems, apps, and antivirus updated; download only from trusted sources.
- Privacy & Information: Adjust privacy settings, limit personal details (name, address, school), and think before posting.
- Browsing & Clicking: Avoid suspicious links and websites, especially for shopping.
- Online Interactions: Be aware that people online may not be who they claim; never meet strangers without parental consent.
- Reporting & Seeking Help: Tell a trusted adult if you encounter uncomfortable or threatening content or requests for personal info.
Online Safety for Parents and Children
Digital safety for families means promoting open communication, setting clear boundaries, using parental controls, and teaching safe sharing of personal information and location.
It involves understanding the apps and platforms children use, encouraging offline activities, and providing resources to manage risks such as cyberbullying, grooming, and inappropriate content—ensuring a balanced and secure online experience.
What Can Parents Do To Promote Digital Safety
- Educate Yourself: Stay informed about the apps, games, and platforms your children use. Understanding their digital world helps you guide them effectively and spot potential risks.
- Set Clear Rules: Create family agreements for screen time, acceptable content, and online behavior. Consistent boundaries help children develop healthy habits and avoid unsafe situations.
- Use Parental Controls: Implement controls on devices, Wi-Fi, and apps to filter inappropriate content and manage usage time. Many platforms offer built-in tools for monitoring and restricting access.
- Talk Openly: Encourage open conversations about online experiences. Ask what your child enjoys online and listen without judgment. This builds trust and makes them more likely to share concerns.
- Protect Personal Info: Teach children never to share sensitive details like their address, school name, or phone number online. Explain why privacy matters and how oversharing can lead to risks.
- Be Device Aware: Check security settings on all internet-enabled devices, including smart TVs, tablets, and gaming consoles. Disable unnecessary features like location sharing and ensure updates are installed.
What Children and Teens Should Learn About Safety
- Think Before Sharing: Avoid posting private information or embarrassing content. Once something is shared online, it can be hard to remove and may affect your reputation.
- Guard Passwords: Keep passwords secret and strong. Never share them with friends, and use different passwords for different accounts.
- Be Kind: Treat others with respect online. Cyberbullying can cause serious harm to both the victim and the person doing the bullying.
- Tell an Adult: If you see or experience something strange, upsetting, or threatening, tell a parent or trusted adult right away. Don’t try to handle it on your own.
- Be Careful with Friends: Not everyone online is who they say they are. Only interact with people you know in real life, and never agree to meet someone without a parent’s permission.
Digital Safety for Kids — What Parents Need to Know
Online digital safety for kids means helping children explore the internet
safely by combining parental guidance with smart, everyday habits. Setting clear boundaries,
using parental controls, and keeping open conversations helps protect children from
cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, and oversharing.
Teaching kids to protect personal information, practice kindness online, and report concerns
builds confidence and awareness. Exploring apps together, reviewing privacy settings, creating
family agreements, and using safe search tools all support a positive and secure digital
experience.
Key Practices for Personal Digital Safety
1. Passwords:
Strong passwords are your first line of defense. Use unique passwords for each account, ideally based on three random words (e.g., “RiverLampTiger”). Avoid predictable choices like birthdays or names. A password manager can help generate and store complex passwords securely.
2. Software Updates:
Regular updates for your operating system, apps, and antivirus software are critical. Updates patch security vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Enable automatic updates where possible to stay protected without manual effort.
3. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
Adding 2FA provides an extra layer of security beyond passwords. It typically involves a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Even if your password is compromised, 2FA makes unauthorized access much harder.
4. Phishing & Links:
Phishing attacks trick users into revealing personal data. Be cautious with emails or messages asking for sensitive information. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Always verify the sender’s identity.
5. Privacy Settings:
Social media and apps often default to public sharing. Review and adjust privacy settings to control who sees your posts, photos, and personal details. Limit location sharing and disable unnecessary permissions.
6. Secure Connections:
Use secure Wi-Fi networks, preferably with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions unless using a VPN. When shopping online, ensure the site uses HTTPS—look for the padlock icon in the browser.
7. Data Backup:
Regularly back up important files to an external drive or cloud storage. This protects against data loss from cyberattacks, hardware failure, or accidental deletion. Automate backups for convenience.
Risks & What to Watch For
1. Content:
The internet hosts vast amounts of material, some of which is inappropriate, unreliable, or harmful. Misinformation, violent imagery, and extremist content can negatively impact mental health and decision-making.
2. Contact:
Not everyone online is who they claim to be. Predators and scammers often pose as friends or peers. Never share personal details or agree to meet someone without parental consent if you’re underage.
3. Commercialism:
Hidden costs, fake offers, and scams are common online. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Check reviews and use trusted payment methods to avoid fraud.
4. Conduct:
Your own behavior matters. Every post, comment, or photo contributes to your digital footprint. Inappropriate or offensive content can harm your reputation and future opportunities. Think before you share.
The Online Safety Act 2023
The Online Safety Act 2023 is a UK law that makes tech companies responsible for protecting users—especially children—from illegal and harmful online content. It requires platforms to implement safety measures, remove dangerous material, and use age verification, with Ofcom enforcing compliance through strict penalties.
UK Online Safety Act 2023 — Key Highlights
The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 places a legal duty on technology companies
to protect users—especially children—from illegal and harmful online content. Platforms such
as social media services and search engines must implement robust safety measures, remove
dangerous material including child sexual abuse content, self-harm promotion, and extremism,
and apply effective age-verification systems.
The regulator Ofcom is responsible for enforcement, with obligations on illegal
content taking effect from March 2025 and child safety duties from
July 2025. Companies that fail to comply may face fines of up to
£18 million or 10% of global annual revenue.
Key Duties & Provisions
- Illegal Content: Platforms must actively prevent, detect, and remove illegal material, including child sexual abuse content (CSAM), terrorism-related content, and material promoting controlling or coercive behavior.
- Child Safety: Companies are required to protect children from harmful or age-inappropriate content such as pornography, self-harm or suicide promotion, bullying, and dangerous stunts, using robust age-assurance measures.
- Risk Assessments: Providers must regularly assess risks on their services, publish risk assessments, and take steps to mitigate identified dangers—especially those affecting children.
Age Verification: Sites hosting pornography must implement strong age checks to prevent minors from accessing adult content. - Transparency & Reporting: Platforms must offer clear reporting tools for users, provide filtering options, and maintain transparency about safety measures.
Enforcement: Ofcom oversees compliance and can impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global annual turnover for non-compliance. - Democracy & Free Speech: The Act aims to balance safety with freedom of expression by protecting “democratically important” content and journalistic material from unjust removal.
Tackling Online Risks
1. Inappropriate Content:
Children can easily encounter violent, sexual, or otherwise harmful material online. Use parental controls on devices, apps, and browsers to filter inappropriate content.
Encourage kids to report anything that makes them uncomfortable and explain why certain content is unsafe. Regularly review their browsing history and discuss what they see online.
2. Cyberbullying & Hate:
Cyberbullying can deeply affect a child’s mental health. Teach empathy and kindness as core online values.
Show children how to block or mute users who harass them and how to report bullying on social platforms.
Make sure they know they can come to you without fear of punishment if they experience or witness online abuse.
3. Fake News & Misinformation:
False information spreads quickly online. Teach children to question what they read and verify sources. Explore fact-checking tools together and explain the importance of critical thinking.
Encourage them to ask you if something seems suspicious or sensational.
4. Sexting & Explicit Images:
Children may face pressure to share intimate photos or messages. Discuss the risks openly, including legal consequences and emotional harm.
Make sure they understand that once an image is shared, it’s nearly impossible to control. Offer support and guidance if they feel pressured, and reassure them that they can always talk to you without judgment.
Online Safety Quiz for Parents & Children
1. Digital safety relies on open communication and clear boundaries.
2. Which risk is mentioned as a key concern online?
3. Parents should understand the apps children use.
4. Family agreements help manage:
5. Parental controls can limit content and usage time.
Conclusion
Online digital safety is a shared responsibility between individuals, families, and platforms.
The UK Online Safety Act 2023 reinforces these efforts by holding platforms accountable for illegal and harmful content, ensuring stronger protections for users, especially minors.
While legislation sets the framework, personal vigilance remains crucial. Simple steps like using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, updating software, and practicing safe online behavior can significantly reduce risks.
For families, open communication, clear boundaries, and parental controls create a safer environment for children to explore the digital world responsibly.
Together, proactive habits and robust regulations pave the way for a secure, balanced, and positive online experience for everyone.