This is Ofcom’s first report on video-sharing platforms (VSPs) since we were appointed as the statutory regulator for platforms established in the UK.
Ofcom's first year of video-sharing platform regulation (PDF, 3.1 MB)
Blwyddyn gyntaf Ofcom o reoleiddio llwyfannau rhannu fideos (PDF, 329.4 KB)
The first part of the report sets out our key findings from the first year of regulation (October 2021 to October 2022). We also explain our approach to the next year of the regime.
The second part of the report describes the measures platforms have put in place to protect their users. We have included this information to be transparent about what the platforms are doing, and to raise awareness of how VSPs protect their users from harmful content. We report on the following platforms:
[1] On 1 May 2024, we opened an investigation into whether Fenix International Limited (Fenix), provider of VSP OnlyFans, had failed to comply with its duties to provide complete and accurate responses, in such a manner specified by Ofcom, in response to two formal requests for information. The information provided in response to the 6 June 2022 information request was used in our report covering Ofcom’s first year of video-sharing platform regulation.
A Final Decision has now been reached. Details of the investigation outcome can also be found here.
As part of the investigation, we found that Fenix had provided us with incorrect information about its age estimation’s solution ‘challenge age’ on OnlyFans. On 22 January 2024, Fenix confirmed that its challenge age was set at 20 years old.
OnlyFans originally told us in September 2022 and August 2023, that its challenge age was set to 23. In the report, we said -
"Why does OnlyFans set its age limit to 23?
"[…] Yoti's latest White Paper reported that the TPR for correctly estimating 13–17-year-olds as being under 23 is 99.65%. If these results are accurate, by setting its Yoti age estimation 'pass' age as 23, OnlyFans is able to ensure that there is only a very small probability (0.35%) that under 18s will be able to pass through the check.” (see page 99)."
Given the new information, the assumption that there was a 0.35% probability of under-18s being able to pass through the check would not have been correct.
For further information regarding the investigation, please refer to the Final Decision.
The VSP landscape
We have also published a report on the VSP landscape in the UK. The report uses Ofcom-commissioned research and analysis to describe the context in which providers apply protection measures. It also presents users' views on their experience of using VSPs.
The VSP landcape: Understanding the video-sharing platform industry in the UK (PDF, 1.3 MB)
VSP users' experiences and attitudes
We have published the following three sets of research alongside this report:
- Ofcom's VSP Tracker, 2021-22 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Parental guidance research (PDF, 716.9 KB)
- Adult users' attitudes to age verification on adult sites (PDF, 335.6 KB)
The concerns and measures discussed in these reports go beyond the scope of the harm and measures in VSP legislation. The research includes platforms that are not currently regulated by Ofcom under the VSP regime, but they still provide important context for understanding the VSP landscape. All views expressed in these reports are those of the research participants, not Ofcom.