Ofcom warns that TikTok and YouTube recommendation feeds are still not safe enough
Ofcom research found 73% of children aged 11 to 17 were exposed to harmful content over a four-week period
UK media regulator Ofcom has expressed disappointment at the failure of major social media and technology platforms to take meaningful action on child safety, singling out TikTok and YouTube for particular criticism.
The regulator's findings
Ofcom said neither TikTok nor YouTube had made substantive commitments to make their recommendation feeds safer for children, despite evidence that personalised feeds are the primary route through which young people encounter harmful online content.
Both companies maintained that their existing systems were sufficient — a position Ofcom rejected, stating that its evidence showed their feeds "are still not safe enough."
Research conducted by the regulator found that 73% of children aged 11 to 17 were exposed to harmful content over four weeks, predominantly through personalised feeds. TikTok was cited most frequently as a source of such content, followed by YouTube, Meta's Instagram, and Snap's Snapchat.
The platforms' responses
A YouTube spokesperson said: "YouTube provides industry-leading, age-appropriate, high-quality experiences for young viewers, working with child safety experts to deliver protections that support millions of families across the UK. We welcome today's news that others across the industry will soon adopt similar features."
A TikTok spokesperson said it was "very disappointing that Ofcom has failed to acknowledge both our longstanding and newer safety features," adding: "We will continue to make ongoing investments in safety measures for our users."
Little overall improvement since the Online Safety Act
Nearly a year after new child safety duties under the Online Safety Act came into force, Ofcom said there had been little overall improvement in children's exposure to harmful content online.
The regulator noted that major platforms dominate children's online activity, with YouTube used by 67% of children and TikTok by 60%, and 95% of children using at least one social media or video-sharing service.
Ofcom also flagged weak enforcement of minimum age requirements, noting that 84% of children aged between eight and 12 use services that require users to be at least 13 years old.
A call for stronger legislation
The regulator said current legislation does not clearly require companies to keep underage users off their platforms and called on the government to strengthen the law.
The findings come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged social media firms to take greater responsibility for child safety, with Britain currently consulting on tighter restrictions — including a possible ban on under-16s using social media, modelled on Australia's landmark approach — to address what it describes as addictive design features.