Ofcom says TikTok and YouTube feeds fail child safety test
Ofcom, the UK regulator, stated that TikTok and YouTube's content feeds are "not safe enough" for children in a new report, criticizing their failure to commit to significant changes regarding harmful content. While Meta, Snap, and Roblox agreed to stronger anti-grooming measures, Ofcom plans to share concerns about minimum age rule enforcement with the government, which is consulting on a potential ban of social media for under-16s.
Key Takeaways
- Ofcom said TikTok and YouTube failed to commit to “any significant changes” to reduce harmful content served to children.
- A survey found 84% of children aged eight to 12 were still using at least one major service with a 13-plus minimum age.
- Snap agreed to block adult strangers from contacting children by default in the UK and to introduce “highly effective” age checks this summer.
- Roblox will let parents switch off direct chat entirely for under-16s, while Meta will hide teens’ Instagram connection lists by default.
- The UK government’s consultation on a social media ban for under-16s closes on 26 May.
Why It Matters
Ofcom’s report turns child safety into a product-design issue, not just a moderation issue: the regulator says TikTok and YouTube are still pushing harmful content through feeds, while Meta, Snap and Roblox accepted tighter anti-grooming changes. That split matters because the UK is already considering age limits, app curfews, or an outright under-16 ban, and Ofcom says it is ready to move into formal investigation if firms do not comply. The next signal to watch is whether the government’s consultation, which closes on 26 May, leads to new age-verification rules or broader limits on personalized feeds.
Read full article at bbc.co.uk