The UK Online Safety Act: More Harm Than Good?
The UK’s Online Safety Act is set to come into force in just a few weeks. Last month, I wrote about why Elon Musk is furious about it.
While making Elon angry is always entertaining, this Act presents a serious problem—one that could have lasting consequences for online communities. Compare these 2 images:
The first comes from an on-line food and drink forum which I am a member of. It poses one of the most important questions in modern Britain, and I hope scientists are working on this problem as we speak.
The second comes from OfCom, and concerns the new On-Line Safety Act and the requirements for child protection.
What the Act Requires
The new law mandates that all UK-based websites and forums implement safety checks to protect users, particularly children. It also requires site operators to establish reporting systems for inappropriate content.
On the surface, these measures seem reasonable. But in practice, they threaten the existence of many long-standing online forums and message boards—some of which have been active for decades.
The Disappearance of Online Communities
From scuba diving to psychedelic rock, thousands of niche forums exist in the UK, fostering genuine and positive communities. I personally belong to several, ranging from fun and casual spaces to the darker places I visit when researching far-right extremism.
Most of these forums are run by volunteers who lack the time or resources to comply with the new regulations. As a result, many will shut down rather than face the burden of compliance.
And here’s the real irony:
🔹 The worst, most toxic platforms will survive—either because they are hosted overseas or because they simply won’t comply.
🔹 The good, well-moderated communities will disappear.
Why This Matters
At first glance, losing a few online forums might not seem like a big deal. But online communities are essential—for support, for hobbies, and for meaningful discussion.
I often write about radicalized online spaces that have been hijacked by right-wing politics or conspiracy theories. But many forums still serve as positive, thriving communities that enrich people’s lives.
By the end of next month, there will be far fewer of them—and that’s a loss we should all take seriously.
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