Ofcom Faults TikTok, YouTube Over Under-13 Safety as 84% of 8-12s Use Age-Restricted Platforms
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 21
Ofcom Faults TikTok, YouTube Over Under-13 Safety as 84% of 8-12s Use Age-Restricted Platforms
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 21
Ofcom said TikTok and YouTube failed to promise significant changes to stop harmful content reaching children, concluding their feeds are still not safe enough.
The regulator also found minimum-age rules are not being enforced effectively: 84% of children aged 8 to 12 use at least one major service officially limited to users 13 and older.
Snap, Roblox and Meta agreed to tougher anti-grooming steps, including blocking adult strangers from contacting children by default, expanding parental chat controls and adding AI detection tools.
TikTok and YouTube defended existing safeguards such as under-16 messaging limits and YouTube Shorts timers, while Ofcom said it will press the government and could act if promised measures are not delivered.
The report lands days before the UK's May 26 consultation deadline on a possible social-media ban for under-16s, with lawmakers already urging stronger statutory restrictions.
After US courts held platforms liable for child addiction, is the UK’s potential ban the next inevitable step in global regulation?
Is the debate over content bans missing the point? Is the addictive 'attention economy' model the real threat to children?
As lawsuits mount against Roblox, are its new child safety promises a real change of heart or a calculated legal strategy?
Protecting Children Online in 2026: Ofcom, Age Verification, and the Global Race for Safer Social Media
Overview
In May 2026, Ofcom, backed by strong government support and the Online Safety Act, is taking decisive action to protect children online. With full political endorsement, Ofcom is finalizing and enforcing new child safety rules, holding online platforms accountable for safeguarding young users. This proactive, safety-by-design approach empowers Ofcom to demand practical safeguards from tech companies, ensuring that digital spaces are safer for children. The government's commitment and Ofcom's authority together mark a significant step toward creating a secure online environment for the UK's youngest internet users.