TikTok and YouTube ‘Not Safe Enough’ for Kids, Says Regulator

Ofcom’s recent report has shed light on the woeful state of online safety for children on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The regulator’s criticism is not new, but its findings have sparked a long-overdue conversation about the role social media plays in exposing young users to harm.

The disparity between what social media companies claim to offer and the reality of their products is stark. While these platforms tout their safety features as safeguards against grooming and explicit content, the truth is that these measures are woefully inadequate. According to Ofcom’s report, 84% of children aged eight to 12 are still using platforms with minimum age limits.

Social media companies have become adept at presenting themselves as champions of online safety while secretly cultivating environments that are hostile to children’s well-being. This has created a culture of safety in name only – one where companies can claim to be doing everything they can, even as they enable harm on an unprecedented scale.

The government’s consultation on banning social media for under-16s is a step in the right direction, but it’s unlikely to be enough. The real problem lies deeper: within the industry itself. Social media companies prioritize profits over people, and without stronger legislation, this will continue.

Australia’s social media ban offers a stark reminder of what happens when governments take decisive action. When faced with such measures, social media companies are forced to confront their complicity in enabling harm. Ofcom should follow suit, rather than simply urging companies to do better.

The fact that platforms like TikTok and YouTube have failed to commit to significant changes is a testament to the industry’s ingrained resistance to meaningful reform. Their safety features are often little more than Band-Aids on bullet wounds. It’s time for these companies to acknowledge their role in perpetuating harm and take concrete steps to change.

The Education Committee’s call for a ban on social media for under-16s is not an extreme measure; it’s a necessary one. In the absence of effective regulation, social media companies will continue to exploit loopholes and push the boundaries of what’s acceptable. Governments must take responsibility for protecting their citizens – particularly children.

As Ofcom prepares to enforce online safety rules, it must be clear that this is not a matter of tweaking existing policies or “doing more” within the current framework. The industry has had years to prove itself; now it’s time for change. Anything less would be a failure to protect children from harm.

The question remains: what will it take for social media companies to put safety above profits? Until we see genuine action, not just empty promises, we’ll continue to be stuck in this cycle of broken trust and unresolved harm. The clock is ticking – and it’s time for change.