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Thu, 21 May 2026

Thu, 21 May 2026 TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for kids, says Ofcom

YouTube said it worked with experts to provide appropriate experiences. TikTok said it was disappointed Ofcom had not acknowledged its safety features.

* Ofcom criticises TikTok and YouTube, saying their content feeds are "not safe enough" for children.
* Both platforms failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content being served to children.
* TikTok stopped direct messaging for under-16s but was criticised for not doing more to protect children from harm.
* YouTube said it works with child safety experts and provides "industry-leading, age-appropriate" experiences for children.
* Ofcom's report found that 84% of children aged 8-12 are still using at least one major social media service with a minimum age of 13.
* The regulator warned that stronger legislation may be needed to protect underage children from online harm.
* Meta, Snap and Roblox agreed to implement stronger anti-grooming measures after Ofcom's call for action.
* Ofcom will share its concerns with the government ahead of the consultation on banning social media for under-16s.
* The report highlighted changes made by Snap, Roblox and Meta to reduce grooming risks and protect children online.