Media regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation into TikTok to determine if the platform is doing enough to prevent children from accessing its services. This move follows a government push to potentially restrict younger users from various online platforms.
Ofcom will specifically scrutinize how TikTok estimates user age and whether its safeguards are sufficient to protect children from inappropriate material. Kate Davies, the regulator’s director for strategy and research, expressed significant skepticism regarding the efficacy of age inference technology, which estimates a user’s age based on their viewing and engagement habits. Ofcom mandates that platforms implement highly effective methods to ensure users meet age requirements.
TikTok maintains that it adheres to all Online Safety Act requirements and noted that it has invested heavily in digital safety since its UK launch. A spokesperson stated that the platform uses advanced technology to enforce age-appropriate experiences. This investigation is part of a larger regulatory crackdown on digital platforms failing to shield children from harmful content, a mandate established under the Protection of Children’s Codes last July.
