Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Meta over whether the company failed to carry out proper risk assessments before launching its “Instants” feature on Instagram in May, according to BBC News — Technology.
The probe centres on whether Meta breached duties under the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) by not adequately evaluating potential risks posed by the new tool, which allows users to take and share instant images with close friends that disappear once viewed.
The regulator is examining whether Meta conducted “a suitable and sufficient illegal content risk assessment and children’s risk assessment” before rolling out Instants to users. Under Britain’s online safety legislation, platforms must carry out and regularly update risk assessments covering illegal content and potential harms to children.
George Lusty, Ofcom’s enforcement director, said the law is clear that significant platform changes must be risk-assessed before launch. “This is a vital step that tech firms must take to protect their users,” he stated. “You wouldn’t launch a new car without testing it properly, and it’s the same for online services.”
Meta defends pre-launch procedure
A Meta spokesperson responded that the company “takes its regulatory obligations under the Online Safety Act seriously” and had conducted a risk analysis. The firm said it briefed Ofcom about the feature “on a number of occasions before launching it” and would cooperate with the investigation.
Meta promoted Instants as “a new way to share photos in the moment” when it launched the feature across Instagram. Images can be viewed by users who have been designated as “close friends” or those who mutually follow each other on the platform.
The company says Instants includes built-in protections, particularly for younger users with Teen Accounts, including blocking screenshots, resharing and forwarding. However, disappearing messages and images have previously been identified as posing particular risks for child and teenage users of social media applications.
Wider legal challenge to regulator
The investigation comes as Meta, alongside TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), seeks to challenge Ofcom’s enforcement of the Online Safety Act through judicial review. The three companies appeared in court this week, arguing they should not be required to provide extensive information in response to the regulator’s formal requests.
Meta has separately contested Ofcom’s power to impose fines based on its global annual revenue. The tech giant also argues that its messaging and image-sharing applications should not face additional OSA requirements, such as tackling paid-for fraudulent advertisements.
Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must demonstrate how they prevent children using their services from encountering harmful content. This includes material relating to pornography, self-harm or suicide – classified as “priority primary content” – alongside abusive, hateful or bullying material.
Lusty emphasised that “safety by design must be built in, not bolted on” and that the investigation demonstrates the regulator will act where it has concerns about provider compliance.
What this means for Poles in the UK
If you or your children use Instagram in the UK, this investigation reinforces that platforms operating in Britain must comply with the Online Safety Act before launching new features. The law requires companies to assess and mitigate risks to users, particularly minors, before rolling out changes.
For Polish families in the UK, this matters because social media platforms must now demonstrate they have considered dangers such as online abuse, harmful content and exploitation before introducing new tools. Features that allow disappearing messages or images – like Instants – have been highlighted as posing particular risks to young people.
If you have concerns about your child’s safety on Instagram or other platforms, you can report them to Ofcom through its website. Parents should also review privacy settings, enable parental controls where available, and discuss online safety with children. The Online Safety Act gives Ofcom powers to fine companies up to £18 million or ten per cent of their qualifying worldwide revenue for serious breaches, meaning platforms face real consequences for non-compliance.
