Ofcom probes TikTok over child safety and harmful content claims
Ofcom opened a probe into TikTok’s child-safety duties after warning the platform was not “safe enough” for children and that personalised feeds are fueling exposure.
Ofcom opened an investigation into TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited on Wednesday over whether the company failed to protect children from harmful content and to use strong enough age checks. The probe is being run under section 12 of the Online Safety Act 2023, whose children’s safety duties took effect on 25 July 2025.
Ofcom’s 21 May review said TikTok and YouTube had failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content served to children. Snapchat, Roblox and Meta agreed to adopt further safety measures after the same review.
Ofcom’s children’s online experiences research found that personalised feeds are the main route through which children encounter harmful content online. It found that 73% of 11- to 17-year-olds in Britain encountered harmful content online during a four-week period. Among secondary school children who said they had seen harmful content, 53% named TikTok, ahead of YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
On the same day as the investigation, Ofcom published a separate age assurance report. The report found age inference models, including systems used by TikTok, may have failed to correctly identify a significant proportion of children.
The investigation will examine whether TikTok failed, or is failing, to comply with duties to keep children from harmful content and to use highly effective age assurance. Ofcom also said opening an investigation does not mean it has concluded that TikTok breached its duties.
TikTok said it was confident it meets its Online Safety Act obligations and would work with Ofcom to demonstrate that.
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