Britain's communications regulator has issued a stark warning to technology companies, demanding they take immediate action to protect women and girls from "significant and widespread" online abuse.
A Digital World Failing Women
Ofcom has published new guidance calling on the tech industry to address the toxic environment that many women face daily. The watchdog highlighted that women in public life, particularly those in sports and politics, are subjected to a barrage of harmful content.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, stated unequivocally that the digital world is "not serving women and girls the way it should." She emphasised the urgent need for industry-wide changes to create a safer online experience.
Recommended Protective Measures
The new guidance, released on Tuesday 25 November 2025, outlines several practical steps that platforms should implement. These measures are designed to prevent abuse and empower users.
Key recommendations include introducing prompts that encourage users to reconsider posting potentially harmful content. For repeat offenders, the guidance suggests implementing "timeout" functions to temporarily limit their ability to interact.
Other proposed tools involve giving users more control, such as the ability to limit who can comment on their posts and enhanced features for blocking and reporting abuse more effectively.
The Push for Mandatory Enforcement
While this guidance is a significant step, it is not currently legally enforceable. This has prompted leading organisations to call for stronger action.
Charities such as Internet Matters and Refuge are now pressing the Government to transform this guidance into a mandatory Code of Practice. They argue that only legally binding rules will ensure meaningful and consistent protection for women and girls across all digital platforms.
The call to action references high-profile cases, including the abuse faced by the England women's football team and MP Rosie Wrighting, as clear evidence of the pervasive problem that requires a robust, regulatory solution.
