The UK Alliance Tackling Online CSEA (UK ATOC), made up of the IWF, NSPCC, Save the Children, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, the UK Safer Internet Centre, Childnet, the Marie Collins Foundation, SWGfL and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, has responded to the UK Government's announcement of a social media ban for under-16s. While the alliance welcomes the Government's recognition that a ban alone cannot tackle the full scale of online harm to children, it sets out why lasting protection depends on a wider, system-wide approach, including stronger safeguards for encrypted environments, safety-by-design requirements for online services, and a strengthened Online Safety Act. The response includes a detailed table mapping how different interventions, from the social media ban to nudity detection and CSAM blocking technologies, contribute to tackling specific online harms such as grooming, sexual extortion and image-based abuse.
The so-called social media ban is a revolutionary step, but is this a revolutionary moment for child safety?
Social media has enormous potential for good, but we must be “alive” to the potential dangers as more and more people go online.
The public faces an “escalating risk” of accidental exposure to child sexual abuse online as a “disturbing” new trend rewards criminals for spamming social media with links to illegal material.
Wednesday’s hearing brings into sharp focus the problems that organisations like ours, the Internet Watch Foundation, are dealing with every day.
Access our free social media partner pack to raise awareness of AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
On Safer Internet Day 2026, the IWF and child protection partners worldwide unite to call for a global ban on AI nudify apps and tools.
Everything we do at the IWF to stop child sexual abuse imagery online is only possible thanks to the amazing partnerships we have with companies and organisations.
Emma joined the IWF in 2011. She helps shape the organisation’s strategic direction and leads on communications, public affairs, campaigns and reputation management.