The work of Ofcom

Status / emerging findings

• Ofcom lacks legal powers to enforce PSB prominence on YouTube and social media under current legislation; new primary legislation would be needed to regulate algorithmic news recommendations to under-25s
• Implementation of Media Act prominence rules has slipped 12+ months: from July–September 2025 target to autumn/Christmas 2025, with full regulatory rules not expected until summer 2026
• Only 50% of 16–24 year-olds on YouTube report seeing PSB content in the past year, indicating a critical visibility gap despite PSBs increasing online output
• Ofcom leadership acknowledges the regulator is 'fighting the last war' focused on traditional TV while young audiences consume news via TLDR creators, TikTok, and YouTube personalities rather than institutional PSBs
• BBC regulatory processes flagged as slow; timing of Media Act delivery further strained by post-election government machinery adjustments

Why it matters

If Ofcom cannot enforce PSB rules on the platforms where young people actually consume news, the entire statutory framework protecting British public broadcasting loses force, risking the long-term sustainability of impartial news provision to younger generations.

Tone arc

Inquiry opened procedural (implementation timelines, legislative scope) but turned increasingly critical after the May 2025 evidence session, with committee pressing Ofcom on its fundamental mismatch between regulatory architecture (designed for broadcast TV) and actual youth media behaviour (algorithm-driven platforms).

Key witnesses

Dame Melanie Dawes DCB (Ofcom Chief Executive), Lord Grade of Yarmouth (Ofcom Chair), John McVay OBE (Pact, Production Services Association), BBC (referenced for regulatory scrutiny)