Ofcom Sounds Alarm on Child Safety Failures at TikTok and YouTube

Britain’s media regulator has sharply criticized TikTok and YouTube for failing to adequately shield children from harmful content, declaring that their recommendation algorithms continue to push unsafe material despite repeated warnings.

In its latest report, Ofcom concluded that the two platforms have not committed to meaningful changes to protect younger users, insisting their current systems are still “not safe enough.” The findings come as pressure mounts on social media giants to do more under the UK’s Online Safety Act, with the government actively considering drastic steps such as banning under-16s from major platforms.

While TikTok and YouTube defended their existing tools — including age-restricted messaging and parental timers on short-form videos — the regulator dismissed these efforts as insufficient. TikTok expressed disappointment that its safety features were not properly recognized, while YouTube highlighted its collaboration with child safety experts.

In contrast, Ofcom praised Meta, Snap, and Roblox for agreeing to stronger protections against grooming. Snapchat will soon block adult strangers from contacting children by default, stop promoting unknown contacts, and roll out enhanced age verification. Roblox plans to allow parents to fully disable direct chat for under-16s, and Meta is introducing default privacy settings on Instagram plus AI tools to detect sexualized conversations in messages.

Social media analyst Matt Navarra described the shift in focus: regulators are no longer just asking how quickly harmful content is removed, but why platforms are recommending it to children in the first place.

Ofcom expressed deep concern that major platforms are still failing to keep children under 13 off their services. A regulator survey found that 84% of 8- to 12-year-olds use at least one platform that officially requires users to be 13 or older.

Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes acknowledged the challenge of changing a 20-year Silicon Valley culture that has treated safety as secondary. However, she warned that the regulator is prepared to launch formal investigations and impose the toughest possible penalties if companies do not comply.

Online safety expert Prof Victoria Baines noted that simply removing underage accounts has had limited success elsewhere, suggesting platforms may need to rely more on behavioral data — such as viewing habits and interactions — to verify real ages.

The report has drawn strong support from children’s safety advocates. Andy Burrows of the Molly Rose Foundation accused big tech of being “compliant and evasive,” urging Ofcom to move faster and consider restricting personalized algorithms that flood teens with harmful content.

The UK government voiced full support for Ofcom’s efforts, stating that too many children remain exposed to online dangers. A public consultation on potential measures — ranging from age limits and app curfews to a full ban for under-16s — closes on May 26, with next steps expected this summer.

The Education Committee has already recommended a statutory ban on social media for under-16s, along with restrictions on addictive features for all under-18s. Committee chair Helen Hayes MP said self-regulation by tech firms has failed and called for a “total reset,” arguing that child safety must finally take priority over commercial interests.

Ofcom has made clear it will closely monitor whether the promised changes are delivered quickly and effectively — with enforcement action ready if platforms fall short.