The UK communications regulator Ofcom says TikTok and YouTube are failing to protect children, stating that they are not safe enough for young users despite “overwhelming evidence of harm.” The criticism follows the regulator’s assessment of how the platforms respond to concerns about child safety, including risks that can arise from content recommendations and other features.
In response, YouTube says it works with experts to provide age-appropriate experiences for users, and it describes its safety approach as designed to account for children’s needs. TikTok says it is disappointed by Ofcom’s findings and argues that the regulator has not recognized safety features it says are in place.
The regulator’s statement indicates that Ofcom believes further action is needed to reduce harms to children and improve protections on both platforms. The companies’ responses emphasize their existing measures, but Ofcom’s conclusion is that current safeguards do not meet the required standard for child users.
