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Lessons Learned From the Social Media Age: The Regulatory & Political Challenge | Copenhagen Summit

Speakers argued that U.S. federal inaction since the 1998 COPPA law left a regulatory vacuum that the UK, EU, Australia and some U.S. states have moved to fill, notably through the UK Online Safety Act and the EU Digital Services Act. Ofcom has begun enforcement, opening dozens of investigations and pushing platforms to adopt duties of care rather than relying on takedowns; regulators cite early wins like widespread age-verification rollout on pornography sites as proof the rules can drive real change. Panelists warned platforms’ growth-first culture and algorithmic incentives still impede safety compliance, even as regulators and industry experiment with technical solutions. The conversation framed social-media regulation as a precursor and learning ground for imminent AI policy challenges.