TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for kids, says Ofcom
YouTube said it worked with experts to provide appropriate experiences. TikTok said it was disappointed Ofcom had not acknowledged its safety features.
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Notable Quotes
"we're talking about a twenty-year culture at Silicon Valley of not taking safety seriously; you can't change that overnight"
— Dame Melanie Dawes , Executive
"the criticism illustrated a shift to seeing online harms as a product problem"
— Matt Navarra , Other
"the research was 'unsurprising' given the 'limited success' found so far in removing accounts belonging to under-16s in Australia"
— Prof Victoria Baines , Academic
"It was disappointed Ofcom had not acknowledged its safety features."
— TikTok , Executive
"It worked with experts to provide appropriate experiences."
— YouTube , Executive
"the regulator remained 'deeply concerned' that platforms were failing to stop underage children accessing their services."
— Melanie Dawes , Executive
"It may be that some platforms will have to use more behavioural data – what a user is watching, engaging with, and chatting about – to determine whether they really are above the minimum age."
— Victoria Baines , Academic
Key People
CEO of Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK.
Social media industry analyst.
Melanie Dawes is the Chief Executive of Ofcom.
Ofcom is the communications regulator for the UK.
An online safety researcher commenting on social media regulations.
TikTok is a social media platform known for its short-form videos.
A professor of IT at Gresham College and cyber security expert.
YouTube is a popular video-sharing platform owned by Google.
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All Coverage
YouTube said it worked with experts to provide appropriate experiences. TikTok said it was disappointed Ofcom had not acknowledged its safety features.
Ofcom warns that TikTok and YouTube have failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content for children, despite evidence of harm.
Ofcom warns that TikTok and YouTube have failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content for children, despite evidence of harm.
Ofcom warns that TikTok and YouTube have failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content for children, despite evidence of harm.
Ofcom criticizes TikTok and YouTube for failing to implement significant changes to protect children, despite evidence of harm. Both platforms maintain their feeds are already safe for children.
Ofcom reports that TikTok and YouTube have not committed to significant changes to reduce harmful content for children, despite pressure for stronger online safety measures.
Ofcom criticizes TikTok and YouTube for not implementing sufficient measures to protect children online, despite calls for stronger action on children's online safety.
Ofcom warns that TikTok and YouTube have failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content for children, despite evidence of harm.
Ofcom criticizes TikTok and YouTube for failing to take steps to protect children, despite overwhelming evidence of harm. Both platforms maintain their feeds are already safe for children.
Ofcom criticizes TikTok and YouTube for not implementing sufficient measures to protect children online, despite calls for stronger action on children's online safety.
Ofcom warns that TikTok and YouTube have failed to commit to significant changes to reduce harmful content for children, despite evidence of harm.
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