“Ofcom vows to name and shame platforms over online sexism,” 25 November 2025

The media regulator has published guidelines designed to make the internet safer for women and girls - and threatened to make it "absolutely clear to the public" which platforms are not adhering to them.

Ofcom says it hopes the measures will make it easier to report and act on online abuse, acknowledging that those processes are currently ‘soul destroying.’

However, they are recommendations rather than legal requirements, with the regulator hoping the threat of platforms being outed for not complying with them will compel them to act.

Critics say it and the government need to go further… ‘Until we have legally enforced mandatory code of practice… we don't think we'll really see a shift,’ said Andrea Simon, executive director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition...

“Ofcom's new guidelines… include asking firms to: put all account privacy settings in one place; de-monetise content containing sexual violence; allow abusive comments to be reported collectively… ‘It's about making reporting much easier…’ said Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes...

UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said tech firms have the ability and the technical tools to block and delete online misogyny.’ The guidance complements previous codes… enforcing the Online Safety Act...

Concerns come amid wider criticism of the regulator for not having enough teeth. So far Ofcom has issued only two fines… 4Chan, has refused to pay its £20,000 penalty and launched legal action in the US...