Ofcom regulates UK established video-sharing platforms (VSPs). These are services that allow users to upload or share videos with other people. Some VSPs within our jurisdiction include:
- Bitchute
- FruitLab
- OnlyFans
- Recast Sports
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- Triller
- Twitch
- Vimeo
- VuePay
A full list of VSPs who have notified Ofcom that they fall within our jurisdiction is available.
Our job is to make sure that VSPs within our jurisdiction have appropriate measures in place to protect users from videos which:
- might impair the physical, mental or moral development of under-18s;
- are likely to incite violence or hatred based on particular grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation; and/or
- directly or indirectly encourage acts of terrorism; show or involve conduct that amounts to child sexual abuse; and show or involve conduct that incites racism or xenophobia.
Find out more about how we regulate video-sharing platforms.
What does this mean?
Important: If your complaint relates to a video showing the sexual exploitation or abuse of children, you must not report the video to Ofcom. See how to report this type of video.
If your complaint relates to a video showing any of the other issues detailed above and you have not done so already, you should report that video to the platform it was accessed from. Details on how to do this should be available on the platform’s app or website. You can also let us know by filling in our short complaint form.
Although we do not respond to individual complaints, the information you provide will help Ofcom monitor whether VSPs are adequately protecting users and will help determine if it is appropriate to take regulatory action. If you want a specific video removed, you should report it to the platform it was accessed from.
Streaming and catch-up services are bound by different rules
Although on-demand and streaming services are online, we regulate them under different rules. You can complain to us about something you’ve seen on BBC iPlayer or another on-demand service.