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British regulator slams TikTok, YouTube for failing to protect children; demands tech reforms

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, has accused TikTok and YouTube of failing to adequately protect children from harmful content.
  • Both platforms are criticized for not preventing under-13s from accessing their services and for algorithmic recommendations that expose minors to damaging material.
  • Ofcom is demanding significant changes, citing that only a small percentage of children have reported seeing less harmful content despite new digital safety laws.

In a stern warning to the digital giants, the UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, has laid bare the shortcomings of platforms like TikTok and YouTube in safeguarding our children. Their latest report highlights a deeply concerning reality: these platforms are not doing enough to shield young users from harmful content, and crucially, they continue to fail in preventing children under 13 from accessing their services.

Ofcom's findings are unequivocal. Despite the impending digital safety laws set to take effect in 2025, the exposure of children to damaging material, often discovered through algorithmic recommendations, has barely decreased. The regulator's investigation reveals that a staggering 73% of British minors aged 11-17 encountered harmful content in a recent four-week period, with a significant portion of this exposure occurring via automated suggestions. This is simply unacceptable.

We remain deeply concerned that despite the overwhelming evidence of harm, the companies continue to fail to take the necessary steps to keep children off their platforms and make their recommendations safer.

· Melanie DawesOfcom's Chief Executive, expressing frustration over the platforms' lack of action.

While we acknowledge that platforms like Snapchat, Meta, and Roblox are making some efforts to enhance child protection, Ofcom rightly points out that the core issue—effectively enforcing age restrictions for users under 13—remains largely unresolved for services like TikTok and YouTube. From our perspective in the UK, the safety of our children online must be paramount. We expect these tech giants to implement robust, verifiable measures, not just promises. Ofcom's resolve to 'force more changes' and utilize the full extent of its powers is a necessary step to ensure these platforms prioritize the well-being of the youngest users over unchecked engagement.

The regulator is determined to 'force more changes' in the big tech companies and use 'the full reach' of its powers to demand improvements.

· Melanie DawesOfcom's Chief Executive, outlining the regulator's stance on compelling tech companies to act.
About this summary

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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