This is a post that I’ve been mulling over for a while. And it really hurts to have to post this. On the 17th March 2025, the Online Safety Act will come into force in the UK. The Act places new safety duties on social media firms, search engines, messaging, gaming and dating apps, and pornography and file-sharing sites.
You can read more about the act here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/time-for-tech-firms-to-act-uk-online-safety-regulation-comes-into-force
The scope of the act is incredibly broad, and this little old UK-based forum will fall squarely under the scope of these new rules. I need to name those accountable for safety, have a robust moderation team, reporting and complaints procedures. And I will be personally liable for up to £18 million in the event of any breaches of safety.
All it would take is one person with a grudge against the community and I could be financially ruined. I really don’t think I have a choice here.
So, on Friday 28th February I will be closing the Angels web forum down and deleting all content. This will give you time to archive any content you want to keep, and to share contact links with those you wish to keep in touch with.
This is not the end of The Angels. We will continue on The Angels Facebook group – where Facebook will be liable for anything, and not me.
I am not closing down the Angels website – that will stay up as a focal point – with links to the Facebook group.
I’m sad that it’s come to this, but I hope you appreciate why I have to do it.
I’m thankful for all the connections I’ve made via The Angels and this forum in particular, and I hope those connections continue over on Facebook. I’m also thankful for all those who have helped (and still help) moderate and run this site
The Angels as a group is 25 years old at the end of January and the latest version of the forum is 19 years old in March. And I think it’s time to bow out.
I repeat: the Facebook group is not closing down, just the web forum.
I do hope you understand.
Hugs
Jo