If a fake moustache can fool age checks, is the Online Safety Act working?

The report summarizes a UK Internet Matters survey assessing the early effects of the Online Safety Act (effective July 2025): it finds modest gains in age-appropriate content and visible safety features, widespread and often-easy-to-bypass age checks across major platforms, and significant privacy concerns around age verification and AI; overall the Act has increased safety visibility but has not produced a step change in reducing harmful content or addressing under-regulated risks such as persuasive design and time spent online.