Is Your Business Compliant on Social Media in 2026?

If you run a business in the UK and use social media to connect with customers, this is one of the most important things you can read this month.

Social media compliance has moved from a “nice to think about” topic to a business-critical one. With the Online Safety Act 2023 now being actively implemented, new platform policies arriving regularly, and a government consultation proposing an under-16 social media ban launched in March 2026, the regulatory landscape has changed significantly. In this post, we break down exactly what UK businesses need to know, what has changed this year, and the practical steps you can take to protect your brand.

What you will learn from this blog:

1. What the Online Safety Act Means for Your Business

2. The UK’s Proposed Under-16 Social Media Ban: What to Watch

3. Platform Policy Changes You Need to Know About

4. 4 Simple Steps to Strengthen Your Social Media Compliance Right Now

What the Online Safety Act Means for Your Business

The Online Safety Act 2023 is not just a law for the big platforms. While much of the focus has been on Meta and TikTok, the Act also imposes duties on businesses and organisations that operate any service involving user-to-user content. This includes comments sections, community groups, and direct messaging features.

If customers can post on your Facebook Page, comment on your Instagram, or interact in a WhatsApp group you manage, you have responsibilities under this Act. You are expected to have systems in place to identify and address illegal and harmful content. Ofcom, the regulator, has the power to fine organisations up to £18 million, or 10% of global revenue, for non-compliance.

The good news is that, for most small and medium businesses, compliance need not be complicated. It starts with having a clear community management policy, knowing who is responsible for moderating your channels, and acting promptly when harmful content appears.

The UK’s Proposed Under-16 Social Media Ban: What to Watch

On 2 March 2026, the UK government published a consultation proposing significant new restrictions on social media access for under-16s. The proposals include a social media age ban, restrictions on features that encourage excessive use, raising the minimum age for data consent from 13, and stronger age-verification requirements.

The consultation is open until 26 May 2026. While nothing is law yet, the direction of travel is clear, and businesses that market to young people, families, or parents need to be thinking ahead.

If any part of your social media strategy is aimed at under-16s, now is the time to review your approach. Think carefully about the platforms you use, the type of content you produce, and how you collect or use data from younger users. Being proactive now will put you in a much stronger position if and when legislation is passed.

Platform Policy Changes You Need to Know About

Staying compliant on social media is not just about UK law. The platforms themselves have their own rules, and breaking them can mean reduced reach, account restrictions, or removal.

In March 2026, two platform changes in particular deserve attention from business owners.

LinkedIn has shifted its algorithm to penalise external links. Posts containing links to outside websites are now receiving up to 40% less reach. If your social media strategy relies heavily on sharing blog posts or driving traffic from LinkedIn, this is a significant change. Adapt by embedding your key insights directly into your posts and placing any links in the comments.

Meta is testing limits on external link posts on Facebook. Some business pages are reportedly being restricted to just two external link posts per month under a new trial. This signals a broader shift in how Meta wants businesses to operate on its platforms, moving away from outbound links and towards native, platform-first content.

Staying on top of these changes is part of running a compliant, effective social media. Platforms can and do penalise accounts that violate their terms, even unintentionally. A quarterly strategy review is a sensible habit to build.

4 Simple Steps to Strengthen Your Social Media Compliance Right Now

You do not need to overhaul everything overnight. Here are four practical steps you can take this month:

1. Review your community management policy. Do you have a written policy for managing comments and user interactions on your social channels? If not, create one. Even a one-page document outlining your approach is a solid foundation.

2. Audit who has access to your accounts. Social media account access should be controlled and regularly reviewed. Former employees, old agencies, and unused apps with permissions are all risk points.

3. Check your advertising disclosures. If you run paid promotions, sponsored content, or work with influencers, make sure all advertising is clearly labelled. The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) continues to enforce disclosure rules across UK social media.

4. Build in a monthly platform update review. Allocate 30 minutes each month to check for any changes to the platforms you use. This newsletter is designed to help you do exactly that.

To Recap

Social media compliance in 2026 is not about fear. It is about running your business with the same care and intention you bring to everything else. Understanding the rules, keeping up with changes, and having the right processes in place means you can show up online with confidence.

If you would like support building a social media strategy that is both effective and compliant, I would love to help. A Strategy Session with Harrison Media Solutions is a one-to-one, live strategy session where we review your entire social media presence and create a bespoke plan tailored to your business.

Book your Strategy Session here →

Or visit harrisonmediasolutions.co.uk to find out more about how we work.